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

Happy Holidays! Today is a re-release of episode 3, with Lewis Howes. Enjoy!

In this Podcast, Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by New York Times Bestselling author, Lewis Howes, author of the hit book,The School of Greatness and his newest book, The Mask of Masculinity. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high-performance business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport All-American. He hosts a top 100 iTunes ranked Apple podcast, The School of Greatness, which has over 250 million downloads and just reached their 1000th episode since it launched in 2013. 

During their conversation, Ashanti and Lewis talked very little about all of his success as an athlete and podcaster but spoke about the masks that they wear and what gets in the way of being our full authentic selves. This conversation is about emotional well-being of men and how ignoring our emotions leads men to unhealthy outcomes and emotional overload. 

(7:38) Together, they discuss how Lewis’s childhood shaped his understanding of the pitfalls of masculinity; 

(24:30) And how Ashanti’s life and work is tied directly to Lewis’s The Mask of Masculinity, as well as how the norms of masculinity can explain the country’s violence and divisiveness. 

(35:18) Then, Lewis and Ashanti participate in the #MillionMaskMovement by sharing their masks.

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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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Send in a voice message:

⁠https://anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message⁠

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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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/

“I knew that if I wanted to control the outcome before someone was about to make fun of me, or judge, or criticize; it was better for me to be the first one to make a joke about myself.” - Diego Estrada

Happy Holidays! Today is a re-release of episode 143, with Diego Estrada. Enjoy!

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Diego Estrada. Born and raised in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mėxico, Diego currently speaks at conferences and delivers workshops on authenticity. Diego lists his job title as an Alegrador de Vidas; the closest translation to English is a “Brightener of Lives”. He loves to connect with people and help them be themselves, and, in this conversation, he and Ashanti are allowed to do just so.

(0:45) Ashanti’s introduction.

(2:45) Diego introduces himself and his work; and he explains why he’s feeling impatient. Then, he and Ashanti find common ground around their work promoting emotional authenticity.

(12:45) Ashanti and Diego make their masks together. 

(16:10) Diego shares the front of his mask - courage, authentic, open. Then, he shares the back of his mask - doubt, constant comparison, physical stature.

(18:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - caring, serious, dedicated. 

(20:10) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - impatient, self-doubt, sadness.

(21:45) Ashanti and Diego discuss self-compassion.

(26:20) Ashanti breaks down an interaction he had with his godson in Mexico.

(29:00) Diego explains the difference between “fitting in” and “belonging.”

(36:30) Diego shares how you can get in touch with him and provides some final words for the audience.

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Connect with Diego Estrada:

Instagram/Tik Tok: ⁠instagram.com/tuvidaesincreible⁠

Podcast: ⁠#TUVIDAESINCREÍBLE⁠

Books Mentioned by Diego: Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett

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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: ⁠anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support⁠

“It’s hard to be the last strong pillar in a breaking-down house. It’s really challenging. Sometimes you just have to understand that the house is breaking down. And it’s always okay to rebuild.” - Theo Coker-Edwards

Happy Holidays! Today is a re-release of episode 162, with Theo Coker-Edwards. Enjoy!

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Theo Coker-Edwards. Theo is a college athlete based in Albany, New York. And in Alameda, as a high schooler, he started and ran his own restorative justice program. IT NEEDS TO BE SAID, Theo is a college freshman who’s mature beyond his years; he is WISE. Please enjoy his thoughts on “the self”, conflict resolution, humility, and his mother - of course. What’s beautiful about Theo is that he understands both his vulnerabilities and his privileges. This came from a lot of self-reflection, and readings of spiritual texts like the Rastafari Bible. And as a result his honesty and self-awareness, his groundedness, is magnetic.

(6:00) Theo introduces himself, his hometown, and his work in restorative justice.

(8:30) Theo and Ashanti make their masks together.

(12:20) Theo shares the front of his mask - funny, college athlete, charismatic.

(13:40) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, hard-working, caring - and they discuss the “fronts” society expects is to put on.

(19:10) Theo shares the back of his mask - mental health issues, insecurity, the desire to be wanted/needed - and how he never sees himself as enough.

(22:30) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - sadness, fear, worry - and the helplessness he feels when caring for his brother.

(27:00) Theo explains how some religious texts have helped him adjust his perspective and approach life with humility. Then, he shares some beautiful thoughts about his mother.

(36:00) Ashanti and Theo discuss conflict resolution, and picking your battles when you have a different perspective from someone.

(39:00) Theo holds a lot of wisdom and roundedness at a young age. He looks back on his childhood and the formation of his personality/EQ.

(42:00) Theo and Ashanti continue to discuss human behavior, triggers, and how we are all capable of different levels of good and bad - based on circumstances.

(49:20) Theo shares a final message for young people.

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Connect with Theo Coker-Edwards:

Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/theo__coker⁠

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/TheoCoker4⁠

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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

In this solo episode, Ashanti Branch tells the story of the teacher who CHANGED HIS LIFE, Ms. BP. It’s the story of a magic sentence that unlocked everything for him and changed his trajectory. Then, he looks at how the podcast, the Ever Forward Club, and schools in general are approaching the end of the year.

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(0:00) Ashanti provides some updates on the podcast going into 2024.

(5:20) Ashanti tells the story of Ms. BP, the teacher who changed his life with a magic sentence.

(14:50) Then, Ashanti reflects on his father, and how he found the motivation to make his father proud from up above.

(16:10) Professional development in schools tends to be horrible. Ashanti compares it to professional development in corporate America.

(19:50) Students might be failing courses going into the end of the semester. How about you make sure you don’t fail in your relationship with them?

(33:40) 2024 is coming! Listen to some final reflections and updates on the Ever Forward club as it approaches its 20th anniversary.

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

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Lincoln. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host. You can get to know more about him in episode 123. Lincoln is a fellow student of Wenceslao’s at City Arts and Leadership Academy ➡️➡️➡️ As they share their masks, play our Adventure Card Game, and discuss all things poetry, friendship, and trust, it’s inspiring to imagine the future these two youth have in store for themselves…

(5:15) Lincoln introduces himself.

(6:15) Wenceslao shares the front of his mask - set my path, passionate, outgoing.

(6:50) Lincoln shares the front of his mask - hilarious, enjoyment, leader.

(7:15) Wenceslao shares the front of his mask - lack of communication, hesitant, stressed.

(7:45) Lincoln shares the back of his mask - socialization, short-tempered, bright.

(8:45) Wenceslao and Lincoln play the Ever Forward Club: The Adventure card game. Question 1. Tell us about a time when you realized you were becoming an adult.

(9:45 Question 2. Describe a time when you felt like you were in a difficult situation with a friend.

(10:25) Question 3. Tell us about a time when someone betrayed your trust.

(11:25) Question 4. What is the most important thing in making a relationship work?

(12:00) Question 5. Name something you can do to improve your life. What’s stopping you?

(13:05) Question 6. What is a lie that you tell yourself about yourself that you need to stop telling?

(13:45) Then, Wenceslao talks to Lincoln about his involvement in the Ever Forward Club.

(15:45) Wenceslao reads a passage from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Then, Lincoln shares more about how the Ever Forward Club has helped him.

(27:00) Wenceslao and Lincoln wrap up the conversation.

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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

“As much as people think I’m in my dad’s shadow, in many ways I live my life to NOT be like him. And even though my dad was a psychologist, I always felt like he wasn’t terribly emotional.” - Matt Englar-Carlson

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dr. Matt Englar-Carlson. Matt is a professor of counseling and the director of the Center for Boys and Men at California State University, Fullerton. His work focuses on healthy/prosocial forms of masculinities, social justice, diversity issues in psychological training and practice, and theories of psychotherapy. In many ways, Matt is an originator in the psychology space when it comes to encouraging healthy and positive masculinity in school settings, and Matt also is the lead men’s health clinical researcher for the first men’s mental health app, Mental. Please enjoy this conversation! Like Matt, it’s equal parts informative, entertaining, and emotional :)

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(5:30) Matt introduces himself, his passions, and how he helps boys and men seek help more effectively.

(10:00) Matt shares the front of his mask - engaged, carefree, together - and how his words have changed from age 30 to age 50.

(11:30) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, caring, passionate - and provides some thoughts on Senator Markwayne Mullin and Teamsters President Sean O'Brien.

(17:10) Matt shares the back of his mask - the weight of responsibility, grief, shame.

(19:30) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - the weight of responsibility, worry, self-doubt.

(22:15) Matt looks back on his childhood and how he had a proclivity for psychology and gender studies.

(30:40) Matt shares what he has noticed in his college students and “how men have been changing.”

(37:30) Ashanti and Matt reflect on how students emote and ask for help differently.

(42:00) Ashanti and Matt take time to consider the alarming rates of death by suicide amongst men. Then, Matt shares how he is involved with the app, Mental.

(48:30) Matt shares some final thoughts and how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Matt Englar-Carlson:

Instagram: instagram.com/drmattec

The Mental App: instagram.com/thementalapp

Website: hhd.fullerton.edu/counsel/faculty/MattEnglarCarlson.php

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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 

“I’ve always been funny. As a kid I was funny. Always funny. But then ask me why I was funny, and the story’s not funny.” - Pellegrino Riccardi

Happy Holidays! Today is a re-release of episode 133, with Pellegrino Riccardi. Enjoy!

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Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Pellegrino Riccardi. Raised in the UK in an archetypal Italian family, as a young adult Pellegrino balanced a career in education and music. He moved to Norway in the 1990s and, long story short, now works as a keynote speaker, with audiences varying from kindergarten school employees to the largest multinational corporations. Pellegrino delivers talks on human interaction and how to create a loving workplace, and he describes himself as “58 years old but feeling 35.” We’re excited for you to learn more about Pellegrino’s masks, his thoughts on perfectionism, and his analysis of humanity’s fear of rejection…

(2:10) Ashanti’s introduction.

(7:05) Pellegrino introduces himself, his journey in music and education, and his current work as a keynote speaker centered on emotion and feelings. Then, they discuss why they both do the work they do and the standard greetings that each language has to keep the status quo.

(23:20) Pellegrino shares the front of his mask - funny, independent, hard-working - and his “classic immigrant story.”

(26:50) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, hard-working. Then, he and Pellegrino find commonality in the roles they had to play at home when they were children.

(32:30) Pellegrino shares the back of his mask - sad, lonely, in pain.

(34:00) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, perfectionist, self-doubt. Then, he and Pellegrino discuss the pitfalls of chasing perfection.

(40:50) Ashanti and Pellegrino analyze the psychology of and the fear of rejection.

(46:50) Pellegrino shares some final words with the audience and shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Pellegrino Riccardi:

Website: ⁠pellegrino-riccardi.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/pellegrino_riccardi⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/pellegrino-riccardi-24425a9⁠His Book, “Drowning Quietly”: ⁠amazon.com/Drowning-Quietly-Memoir-Mans-Shortcomings/dp/1632995069⁠

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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: ⁠anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support⁠ 

“Most youth say THE government. They don’t say OUR government. Or they say THE schools. They don’t say OUR school. Or they say THE house. They don’t feel connection. A lot of the autonomy from young people is being taken. The access is being suppressed. A lot of times youth are doing it without help and despite the system and despite the programs that be, because they had to do it on their own.” - Jamarria Hall

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jamarria Hall. Jamarria is a Social Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, advocate, and activist for equitable education. He lead Detroit students in 2016, in a class action lawsuit against the state seeking a constitutional right to literacy, irrespective of zip code and based on the 14th Amendment. The lawsuit was a success. So what was it that prepared Jamarria to stand up for such a cause at such a young age? We’ll have to take off the mask to find out…

(1:00) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:00) Jamarria introduces himself, his case against the state of Michigan, and his role as a youth advocate.

(7:45) Jamarria shares the front of his mask - happy, smart, unbothered.

(12:15) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, passionate, caring - then, he and Jamarria reflect on their relationship with rest and self-care.

(20:25) Jamarria shares the back of his mask - lost, anxiety, worry.

(24:20) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - my brother, fear, self-doubt, worry.

(30:25) Jamarria describes what he is seeing with young people, the mindsets they have been adopting, and their relationships with elders.

(34:15) Jamarria looks back on his upbringing and relationship with basketball, and how it helped him step into leadership roles and create change.

(40:00) Jamarria shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Jamarria Hall:

Instagram: instagram.com/jamarriahall

Website: detroit-accesstoliteracy.org

Facebook: facebook.com/RighttoLiteracy

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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

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Mr. Craig Galvin. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host. You can get to know more about him in episode 123. Craig Galvin is an Algebra teacher at Wenceslao’s high school ➡️➡️➡️ Let’s just say this is a conversation between a teacher and a student that most people never get to experience. It’s so great seeing a student and a teacher connect on this level. As you listen, consider this - have you ever had a conversation like this with one of your teachers? Who was that teacher? And how much did you appreciate them?

(4:20) Craig, Wenceslao’s math teacher, introduces himself. Then, he and Wenceslao make their masks together.

(5:40) Wenceslao shares the front of his mask - funny, calm, quiet, a learner.

(6:15) Craig shares the front of his mask - confidence, organized, prepared, passionate, dog dad.

(8:00) Craig shares the back of his mask - split home, weakness, messiness, mental health.

(10:40) Wenceslao shares the back of his mask - stress, being with people calms me down, taking things seriously.

(12:20) Wenceslao and Craig play the Ever Forward Club: The Adventure card game.

(12:50) Question 1. When did not speak up, but you know you really should have?

(14:30) Question 2. What are you most afraid of?

(17:00) Question 3. Share with everyone a lesson that you are still learning.

(19:00) Question 4. Name a characteristic about yourself that you don’t talk about much.

(20:50) Question 5. If money was no issue, what is something you would start? 

(22:55) Question 6. What experience in your life has taught you the most?

(25:50) Wenceslao reads a passage about friendship, from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.

(31:05) Wenceslao shares why he sees Craig as more than a teacher - as a friend. Then, Craig compares his first year as a teacher to his second year.

(36:20) Craig shares how he applies the mask activity and the Ever Forward Club to his classroom and his teaching style.

(47:10) Wenceslao closes things out by reading one more poem from Kahlil Gibran, about pain.

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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

“I had a car crash where I was lucky to survive. My best friend was in the car, and we were very fortunate we didn’t die. It was a period where I was very off the rails and I was using alcohol to cope - a drunk driving incident where the whole car was crushed in half. It became the biggest news story in the country.” - Nick Bracks

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Nick Bracks. Growing up in one of the most famous political families in Australia, Nick was exposed to life in the public eye since he was 12 years old. Struggling to cope with depression and anxiety through substance abuse, Nick first gained notoriety in his early 20s through a publicly documented car crash that nearly killed himself and his best friend. The drunk driving incident became a catalyst for Nick to turn his life around, exposing his mental health issues and allowing him to get the help he desperately needed. Since then, Nick has developed a successful public speaking career dedicated to de-stigmatizing mental illness through storytelling.

(0:55) Ashanti’s introduction.

(8:50) Nick introduces himself, his childhood in the media, and how struggling in the public eye prepared him for the mental health work he does now.

(10:50) Nick and Ashanti make their masks together.

(14:30) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, passionate.

(17:35) Nick shares the front of his mask - vulnerability, empathy, passion.

(19:50) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of…, self-doubt, what’s next - success or failure.

(22:40) Nick shares the back of his mask - failures, don’t always speak my mind/people pleasing, not enough, money - and he and Ashanti discuss how they both tend to people please more than they’d like.

(29:55) Nick looks back on his life and childhood in the spotlight, how it conditioned his behavior, and how he eventually reclaimed control of his narrative.

(37:10) Nick tells Ashanti about a life-saving speech he delivered.

(43:50) Nick shares a final message with the audience and how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Nick Bracks:

Website: nickbracks.com

Nick’s Newest Venture: moveyourmind.io

Instagram: instagram.com/nickbracks

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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