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

What does it truly mean to raise caring, moral, and engaged young people?

In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with Harvard educator and Making Caring Common founder Professor Richard Weissbourd to discuss empathy, morality, purpose, civic responsibility, and the pressures shaping educators and students today.

They explore why schools must look beyond academic achievement, how listening builds empathy, why young people need help finding truth in a divided media landscape, and why we cannot afford to become indifferent.

This conversation is for educators, parents, and anyone committed to helping young people become thoughtful, compassionate, and engaged human beings.

Connect with Professor Richard Weissbourd

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/making-caring-common-at-hgse

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/

Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club

Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:

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Connect with Ever Forward Club

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#UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators#SocialEmotionalLearning #EmotionalSafety #MoralDevelopment #CivicEngagement #StudentWellbeing #PurposeAndMeaning

What happens when a historian, educator, and cultural critic invites us to think more deeply about the masks we wear, the stories we inherit, and the truths we often avoid?

In this powerful episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with historian, professor, author, and public scholar Dr. Frederick Gooding Jr. Known for his work exploring African American history, race, culture, and representation, Dr. Gooding brings both intellectual depth and personal reflection to a conversation about identity, education, and emotional truth.

Ashanti and Dr. Gooding unpack the realities many Black men navigate every day, the tension between who they are and who the world expects them to be, the exhaustion of code-switching, and the emotional weight carried beneath carefully constructed masks.

This conversation dives into:

• The concept of front-stage and backstage behavior

• W.E.B. Du Bois' idea of double consciousness

• Why many young men hide vulnerability behind humor and performance

• The emotional safety students need before authentic connection can happen

• Hip-hop as an overlooked educational and cultural teaching tool

• How schools often overlook the strengths students bring from home

• The relationship between empathy, history, and education

• The hidden pain that can exist behind passion and advocacy

• Why teaching honest history is essential to understanding the present

• The challenges and opportunities of being a Black male educator today

Throughout the conversation, Ashanti and Dr. Gooding explore what it means to lead with authenticity while navigating systems that often demand performance. Together, they challenge listeners to think differently about masculinity, education, empathy, and the power of human connection.

If you care about education, history, emotional wellness, racial equity, authentic leadership, or helping young people feel seen and understood, this episode is for you.

Connect with Dr. Frederick Gooding Jr.

LinkedIn: Dr. Frederick Gooding Jr.

Email: [email protected]

Upcoming Books:

• A book exploring Black statues and monuments in Washington, D.C., and what they reveal about visibility, memory, and representation in America.

A Disturbance in the Force: Making Space for Race in the Star Wars Space, examining race, identity, and representation throughout the Star Wars universe.

Connect with Ashanti Branch

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

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

X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

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

Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club

Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Connect with Ever Forward Club

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

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X: https://x.com/everforwardclub

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

#UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #AuthenticMasculinity #BlackMaleEducators #EmotionalSafety #TeachingHonestHistory #EducationalEquity

What happens when young people are only shown one version of what it means to be a man?

Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, spoken word artist, and author Gabriel Mizunaka to explore the experiences, mentors, and moments that shaped his journey as a teacher and creative voice.

Together, they discuss the masks men wear, the pressures young people face in defining masculinity, and the role poetry can play in helping students express emotions that often go unspoken. Gabriel shares how a simple classroom opportunity changed the course of his life and why educators should never underestimate the impact they have on students.

This episode is a reminder that authenticity is not weakness. When young people are given permission to express who they truly are, they begin to discover the strength that has been there all along.

• How one classroom moment introduced Gabriel to spoken word poetry

• Why educators often underestimate their influence on students

• The power of creating spaces where young people can express their emotions

• How poetry can unlock conversations students struggle to have out loud

• Why many boys are taught a limited view of masculinity

• The difference between appearing strong and being emotionally healthy

• How silence, avoidance, and bottled-up emotions affect young men

• Why students are constantly learning from what educators model, not just what they teach

• The importance of male role models who demonstrate empathy and vulnerability

• How social media influences the way young people define manhood

• Why teachers cannot carry the responsibility for every student's outcome

• The value of recognizing indirect moments of impact in education

• How authentic relationships help young people embrace who they are

• Why there is more than one way to be a man

• The connection between creativity, identity, and emotional well-being

Connect with Gabriel Mizunaka

• Instagram: @mizuonthemic

• TikTok: @mizuonthemic

• Book: To the Student That . . .: A collection of poems for students (and teachers) for the classroom

Connect with Ashanti Branch

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

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

X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

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

Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club

Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Connect with Ever Forward Club

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

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

X: https://x.com/everforwardclub

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

#UnMASKingWithMaleEducatoreEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub  #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #HealthyMasculinity #EducationPodcast #TeacherLife #StudentVoice #EmotionalIntelligence

What happens when the protections students depend on begin to disappear in plain sight?

In this conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with education law scholar Preston Cary Green III to explore how his journey shaped his commitment to protecting opportunity, dignity, and rights for all young people.

Together, they discuss the masks educators wear, the ongoing fight for student protections, and why communities must stay engaged in defending educational justice.

This episode is a reminder that opportunity is never guaranteed. It must be understood, protected, and fought for.

• How early educational interventions can change the course of a child's life
• Why labels and misplaced assumptions can limit student potential
• The role educational law plays in creating opportunity and access
• How school desegregation shaped generations of students and families
• The difference between educational choice and educational protection
• Why legal rights matter in every learning environment
• How giftedness, talent, and potential are often overlooked
• The importance of making complex educational issues accessible to families
• Why advocacy cannot stop at the federal level
• How local communities can protect and advance student rights
• The connection between dignity, equity, and educational access
• Why educators must understand the systems that shape student experiences
• The power of mentors who help young people see new possibilities
• What it means to continue the unfinished work of educational justice

Connect with Preston Cary Green III

• Website: www.drprestongreen.com

• BlueSky: @prestongreen

• X: @PrestonGreen

• LinkedIn: Preston Cary Green III

Connect with Ashanti Branch

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

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

X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

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

Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club

Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Connect with Ever Forward Club

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

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

X: https://x.com/everforwardclub

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

#UnMASKingWithMaleEducatoreEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub  #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators # EducationLeadership #StudentAdvocacy #EducationalEquity #SchoolLeadership #EducationPolicy #UnmaskingWithEducators

What if the behaviors schools label as problems are actually signs of untapped brilliance?

In this conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, author, and Think Law founder Colin Seale to explore how his journey from struggling student to gifted learner, math teacher, and law school graduate shaped his mission to make critical thinking accessible to every child.

Together, they discuss the masks educators wear, the invisible talents students carry, and what it takes to create classrooms where rigor, engagement, and humanity can thrive together.

This episode is a reminder that students do not need less challenge. They need learning that helps them see what they are capable of becoming.

• How early labels can shape a student's identity and future

• Why critical thinking is often treated as a luxury instead of a necessity

• The difference between classroom management and classroom control

• How giftedness and behavior are often misunderstood in schools

• Why invisible talent exists in every classroom

• The power of creating psychological safety around mistakes

• What educators miss when they focus only on compliance

• How engagement can become a pathway to rigor

• Why many students are underestimated before they ever get a chance to shine

• The role of curiosity, advocacy, and questioning in student success

• How real-world problems can make academic content more meaningful

• Why educators must challenge systems that limit opportunity for young people

• What it means to rehumanize instruction instead of simply managing behavior

• How educators can move from believing some students can to creating conditions where all students can

Connect with Colin Seale

• Website: https://www.thinklaw.us

• Instagram: @colinseale

• Instagram: @thinklawus

• Book: Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking to All Students

Connect with Ashanti Branch

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

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

X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

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

Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club

Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Connect with Ever Forward Club

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

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

X: https://x.com/everforwardclub

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

#UnMASKingWithMaleEducatoreEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub  #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #EducationPodcast #EducationalLeadership #StudentSuccess #TeachingAndLearning #ThinkLaw 

What happens when your earliest memories teach you lessons about race, identity, and belonging before you even understand what those words mean?

In this conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, author, and education leader Brian Rashad Fuller to explore his journey into education and the story behind Being Black in America’s Schools.

Together, they discuss the masks educators wear, the power of joy and representation, and what it takes to create schools where Black and Brown students can thrive without sacrificing their humanity.

This episode is a reminder that education is about more than test scores. It’s about helping young people see who they are and what’s possible.

This episode is a reminder that education is about more than test scores. It's about helping young people understand who they are, what they are capable of becoming, and ensuring they have the support to pursue their dreams.

• How childhood experiences shape the educators we become

• Why joy matters for Black boys and Black men

• The power of representation in the classroom

• What Brian learned from working with students impacted by incarceration

• Why many students don't know what they don't know about college and opportunity

• The connection between education and social justice

• How educators can challenge systems that were not designed for all students to succeed

• The hidden costs of achievement-focused school cultures

• Why reflection is essential for growth as an educator

• What it means to disrupt inequity from inside the system

• How Brian's personal story became the foundation for his book

Connect with Brian Rashad Fuller

• Website: https://www.brianrashadfuller.com

• Follow Brian for insights on educational equity, leadership, social justice, and creating schools where all students can thrive. 

• Book: Being Black in America’s Schools: Student and Educator Reformers Call for Change

Connect with Ashanti Branch

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

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

X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

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

Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club

Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Connect with Ever Forward Club

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

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

X: https://x.com/everforwardclub

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

#UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub  #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #EducationLeadership #EducationalEquity #StudentSuccess #SchoolLeadership #SocialJusticeEducation

What happens when one person sees your potential before you can see it yourself?

Ashanti Branch sits down with Hasan Davis, educator, youth advocate, storyteller, and self-described "Hope Dealer," to explore the experiences that shaped his life and his commitment to young people. From childhood trauma and educational barriers to juvenile justice reform and national leadership, Hasan shares how a series of caring adults helped him discover possibilities beyond the circumstances he was born into.

They discuss the power of belonging, the responsibility educators carry, and why behavior is often a reflection of survival rather than defiance. Hasan reflects on the teachers, mentors, and family members who refused to let his story end where others expected it to.

• Why behavior is often communication rather than a disciplinary problem

• The importance of creating conditions where students feel they belong

• How educators can hold students accountable without giving up on them

• Why young people need adults who can see both their struggles and their potential

• Why relationships matter more than authority when building trust with young people

• The impact of educators who create opportunities instead of barriers

• How students often carry responsibilities and burdens that adults never see

• Why schools must address more than academics to support learning

• How educators can avoid taking student behavior personally

• Why creating classroom agreements can help students develop ownership and accountability

• The importance of helping young people imagine futures beyond their current circumstances

Connect with Hasan Davis

• Website: www.hasandavis.com

• Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasandavis/⁠ 

• Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HasanDavisSolutions⁠ 

Connect with Ashanti Branch

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

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

X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

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

Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club

Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Connect with Ever Forward Club

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

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

X: https://x.com/everforwardclub

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

#UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub  #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #EducationLeadership #StudentBelonging #TraumaInformedEducation #PowerOfHope #YouthDevelopment #SeeThePossibility

Content notes: This episode contains discussions of trauma, addiction, mental health, and psychedelic-assisted healing. Steve shares his personal experiences and perspectives. This conversation is not intended as medical, psychological, or professional treatment advice. Listeners seeking support should consult qualified healthcare or mental health professionals.

What happens when the masks that helped you survive start keeping you from truly living?

Ashanti Branch sits down with Steve Sapourn, host of The Neuro’s Journey, to explore childhood trauma, addiction, healing, and nervous system regulation. Steve shares how his journey from survival to success led him toward deeper self-understanding, purpose, and transformation.

Together, they discuss how trauma shows up in classrooms, why behavior is often communication, and how one caring educator can change a life.

This episode is a reminder that healing happens through choices, connection, and the courage to uncover your light.

• How childhood trauma shapes the nervous system and influences behavior

• Why some students act out while others hide their pain behind achievement

• The connection between addiction, survival, and emotional regulation

• What educators can learn from students who struggle to sit still or stay engaged

• The life-changing impact of one teacher who truly sees a student

• Why success, money, and achievement don't always heal emotional wounds

• The difference between surviving and truly living

• How shame can keep people disconnected from themselves and others

• The role of community, reflection, and vulnerability in healing

• Why apologizing can strengthen relationships instead of weakening them

• The importance of regulating your own nervous system before helping others

• How uncovering your inner light can create positive change for everyone around you

Connect with Steve Sapourn

• Website: stevesapourn.com

• Podcast: The Neuro’s Journey

• Follow Steve for conversations about trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, personal transformation, and the healing journey that helps people move from survival to purpose.

Connect with Ashanti Branch

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

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

X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

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

Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club

Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Connect with Ever Forward Club

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

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

X: https://x.com/everforwardclub

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

#UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub  #FromSurvivalToPurpose #UncoverYourLight #HealingJourney #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemHealing 

What happens when the people everyone relies on for hope, encouragement, and positivity are struggling to carry everyone else's burdens?

In this powerful conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, author, and speaker Chase Mielke to explore the masks educators wear, the emotional labor of teaching, and the importance of creating spaces where both students and adults can be fully human.

They discuss burnout, student engagement, social media's impact on learning, the importance of positive emotions in education, and why relationships matter more than ever in today's classrooms.

This episode is a reminder that educators don't have to carry everything alone, and that small moments of connection often have a greater impact than we realize.

• Why educators often feel pressure to be the strong one

• The hidden emotional costs of caring deeply for students

• How social media and instant gratification are changing learning

• What students today are struggling with most

• The relationship between joy, resilience, and academic success

• Why positive emotions are essential for learning

• The challenges of balancing teaching, parenting, and personal well-being

• How one assistant principal changed Chase's life forever

• Why your impact as an educator can't always be measured by data

• The power of small moments over big breakthroughs

Connect with Chase Mielke

• Website: chasemielke.com

• Follow Chase on social media for insights on educator well-being, positive psychology, and effective teaching practices.

Connect with Ashanti Branch

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

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

X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

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

Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club

Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Connect with Ever Forward Club

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

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

X: https://x.com/everforwardclub

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

#UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub  #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #ChaseMielke #TeacherBurnout #EducatorWellness #TeacherResilience #PositivePsychology #SchoolCulture

What happens when a certified educator, trauma-informed healing-centered facilitator, and community organizer starts asking deeper questions about masculinity, emotional safety, and the world our boys are growing up in?

In this powerful episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Asahnti sits down with Mexican-American educator, former middle school teacher, community organizer, and Trauma-Informed Healing-Centered Facilitator, Fernando Deveras. is known for his thought-provoking commentary on history, politics, education, and current events through his growing online platforms and community work.

Ashanti and Fernando unpack the emotional realities many young men carry behind the mask, the pressure to perform masculinity, the fear of vulnerability, and the impact of growing up in a world shaped by social media, violence, isolation, and emotional disconnection.

This conversation dives into:

• What boys are really searching for beneath the surface

• Why emotional safety matters in schools and communities

• The hidden exhaustion educators carry behind the scenes

• Trauma, healing, and intergenerational patterns in Latino families

• The role educators play in helping young people feel seen

• Why “the kids don’t have time for adults to wait to be ready”

• Masculinity, community accountability, and the bystander effect

• The importance of speaking up, even when your platform feels small

Fernando also shares his personal story growing up as the son of immigrants, becoming a father while in college, transitioning from classroom teaching into community organizing, and helping families heal through culturally grounded practices.

If you care about young men, education, emotional wellness, restorative practices, or building safer communities this episode is for you.

Connect with Fernando

• Instagram: @fernando.deveras

• YouTube: Fernando De Veras

• Substack: Fernando De Veras

• Learn more about and their family healing workshops

Connect with Ashanti Branch

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

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

X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

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

Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club

Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Connect with Ever Forward Club

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

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

X: https://x.com/everforwardclub

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

#UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub #EducationLeadership #HealthyMasculinity #YouthDevelopment #EmotionalSafety #CommunityHealing