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

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Angel. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s new Youth Host! You can get to know more about him in episode 123. Angel is a member of the EFC Social Emotional Leadership Academy. In fact, Angel and Wenceslao recorded a podcast together a year ago. As they share their masks, play our Adventure Card Game, and discuss all things friendship, parenting, and even the American dream, the growth they have demonstrated in this episode is staggering.

(1:50) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:00) Angel introduces himself.

(6:50) Angel shares the front of his mask - cheerful, kind, energetic. Then Wenceslao shares his - happy, smart, explorer.

(7:45) Angel shares the back of his mask - stressed, anxious, worried. Wenceslao shares the back of his mask - anxiety, stress, not sure what to do.

(9:45) Angel and Wenceslao play the Ever Forward: Adventure Card Game.

(11:00) Question 1: A characteristic about yourself that you don’t really talk about much.

(13:40) Question 2: Name a relationship that recently started.

(16:15) Question 3: How are you different when you are alone vs. with others?

(19:05) Question 4: What is something you feel that you wish you’d say out loud?

(21:45) Wenceslao and Angel continue discussing the American Dream, how they define maturity, and the changes they’ve seen in their approaches to mental health.

(30:30) Then, they discuss “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran, and share their thoughts on the purpose of friendship.

(35:15) Wenceslao and Angel share how they handle social media and how they communicate their anxiety to adults.

(47:15) Then, they analyze the poem “Making Love to Captain America”.

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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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“The journey I'm on is trying to unpack my story in a way to find out who I am without my trauma. And what does life look like and how is it lived if I stop living through the lens of my trauma and the things that have been challenging for me, and really focus on purpose.”

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Romal Tune. Romal is a father, author, social impact Entrepreneur, and VP of Strategic Partnerships at TMS Global. Along with his main purpose - to help people heal their stories - Romal loves to travel and collect art. In this conversation, Ashanti and Romal share the masks they present to the world, and Romal explains how understanding his own masks led him to the idea of writing his latest book, I Wish My Dad.

(1:05) Ashanti's introduction.

(7:45) Romal introduces himself, his work, his most recent book, and his family.

(11:30) Romal shares the front of his mask - creativity, caring, passionate - and how his childhood shaped his interests, passions, and desire to heal.

(16:15) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - passionate, serious, caring. Then, Romal and Ashanti reflect on their relationships with art and creativity.

(21:40) Romal shares the back of his mask - anxiety, doubt, lonely - and how his journey on the back of the mask is an exercise in unpacking things about himself.

(26:55) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - anxiety, fear, body shame - and how these feelings have become more present with age as the purpose of his journey has crystallized.

(38:35) Romal explains the impetus behind his book, I Wish My Dad.

(44:25) Then, Ashanti and Romal observe how both young people and adults are learning how to love each other better by breaking down social paradigms.

(53:55) Romal shares how you can buy his book and get in touch.

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Connect with Romal Tune:

Website: romaltune.com

Buy “I Wish My Dad”: iwishmydad.com

Instagram: instagram.com/iwishmydad

Twitter: twitter.com/romaltune

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

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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Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Wenceslao S. Wenceslao is a high school student based in San Francisco, CA, and an aspiring musician and car racing aficionado. Wenceslao is also Ever Forward Club’s new Youth Host! Signing up for duties as the new host is a big deal for Wenceslao, someone who struggles with social anxiety. In this conversation, Ashanti and Wenceslao discuss what it took for him to take this role, while both looking to the future and looking back on how far Wenceslao has come.

(7:50) Wenceslao is introduced as the Ever Forward Club’s new Youth Host.

(11:30) Wenceslao and Ashanti make their masks together.

(13:10) Wenceslao shares the front of his mask - musician, outgoing, someone who takes in information.

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

(19:05) Wenceslao shares the back of his mask - struggles with your path, social anxiety - and Ashanti looks back on Wenceslao’s growth when it comes to his social anxiety, and how accepting the position of Youth Host takes a lot of bravery.

(22:50) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - self-doubt, fear, worry.

(28:25) Ashanti and Wenceslao continue to discuss his social anxiety, and they reminisce on their first meeting and his growth ever since.

(35:55) Wenceslao shares a little bit about his best friend. Then, he and Ashanti wrap up the conversation and look ahead.

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

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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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 December, Ashanti went on his (somewhat) annual trip to Mexico. In this podcast, Ashanti reflects on the trip, spreading the Million Mask Movement, and returning to the Bay Area for a New Year’s Eve celebration filled with juxtapositions…

(1:40) Ashanti recaps his trip to Mexico City and explorations with Rohit Tigga and Rodrigo. Then, he looks ahead at what’s in store for the Ever Forward Club this coming year.

(8:30) Ashanti tells the story of his trip back to the Bay Area and attending London Breed’s New Year’s Eve party. After the party, he made some observations while at the Civic Center BART, struggling to get home in the early hours of January 1st.

(16:50) While still trying to get home, a young man catches Ashanti’s eye.

(19:30) As he sees more young men in the street, he continues to reflect on the state of our education system.

(30:25) It’s the first Tuesday of January 2023. So Ashanti looks back at what happened on the first Tuesday of last year.

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

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]

---

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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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 was 50 years old when my son took his life. At that point in my life, I was in the best shape I’ve ever been. Bench 400 pounds, squat 550, deadlift 550, but I wasn’t strong enough to save a life.” - Phillip Tyler

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Phillip Tyler. Phillip is many things, including an Air Force Veteran, former Corrections Lieutenant, and a former Vice President and President of the Spokane NAACP. But Phillip boils it all down to being a community advocate, and most importantly a loss survivor and passionate suicide prevention advocate. And he’ll be the first to say that he didn’t transform into a true man until he was 50 years old, after a lifetime of experiences he shares with the world in hopes of making it a more loving place.

(1:25) Ashanti’s introduction.

(7:30) Phillip introduces himself, his upbringing, his veteran background, and his current work. Then, he shares his family’s history with mental health.

(11:55) Phillip shares the front of his mask - professional, outgoing, hard-working. Then, he shares the back of his mask - imposter syndrome, ongoing pain (John Henryism), ambivert. Then, he breaks down the physical and emotional fatigue he experiences while pushing up against the systems in place.

(15:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - passionate, dedicated, intense, on edge - and reflects on what it has been like to have a career coach. Then, they reflect generally on what it is like to dump out all of your emotions at once.

(23:45) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, worry, doubt. Then, Phillip looks back on his time in the military and how the military dealt with mental health.

(29:00) Ashanti and Phillip observe how many men in our culture lack intimacy and how specifically Black men can change this culture.

(38:00) Then, Ashanti explains why he has resisted speaking publicly about our country’s history of racism, and how our culture places a mask over this history.

(46:50) Phillip gives some advice to fathers.

(53:00) Phillip shares how you can connect with him.

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Connect with Phillip Tyler:

Instagram: instagram.com/color_fulconversations

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/phillip-tyler-72213051

Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011171763908

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

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]

---

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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“Something my mom always says - and she makes it seem so simple - is, ‘If you miss somebody, call them.’ We have no excuse not to communicate with the people that we want to talk to.” - Zeke Crawford

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Zeke Crawford. Zeke is from San Francisco, California, and Zeke and Ashanti first connected when Ashanti held a workshop at Zeke’s Stuart Hall High School. Currently a professional basketball player based in Lausanne, Switzerland, Zeke loves to try new foods, explore new places, meditate, and watch anime. International life can be very difficult, but that hasn’t prevented Zeke from maintaining close relationships. We’re excited for you to learn about how Zeke navigates this world and his masks.

(1:35) Ashanti’s introduction.

(8:30) Zeke and Ashanti reminisce on how they first met and why Zeke made a big impression on Ashanti. Then, Zeke introduces himself, his origins, and his professional basketball career.

(13:30) Zeke shares the front of his mask - funny, friendly, trustworthy.

(14:45) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, funny, dedicated.

(18:00) Zeke shares the back of his mask - scared, indecisive, confused - and the challenges of international life.

(22:00) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, worrier, doubt - and how images from social media make him disproportionately worrisome.

(26:45) Zeke and Ashanti take time to emphasize that we need to take the initiative to reach out to others.

(30:50) Zeke reflects on the day he and Ashanti first met at Stuart Hall High School and how he’s taken those lessons around the world and in everyday life.

(43:35) Zeke shares a final message with the audience.

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Connect with Zeke Crawford:

Instagram: instagram.com/_zeke2fresh

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

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]

---

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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“Painting in a blizzard, painting in gale force winds - those experiences are experiences where I realized we are not separate from ‘it’. It doesn’t matter what label you give to ‘it’ - universe, divine, energy, God, spirit. You give it whatever label you want to give it. What I realize is we’re not separate from it, and the only thing that creates the idea that we could be is our mind.” - Alexander Inchbald

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Alexander Inchbald. A climate artist, bestselling author, and change leader, everything Alexander does is based on his mystical experiences painting around the world. These experiences have helped him to realize we are not passive participants in a universe beyond our control, but active creators of our own playground. As the founder of the #Masterpiece Movement, Alexander is on a mission to help 10,000 Rainmakers to create their Masterpiece, creating a system that will help sustain humankind. We’re excited for Alexander to share with you his one-of-a-kind mask, and to share how taking off the mask allows us to create love-centered masterpieces.

(1:50) Ashanti’s introduction.

(7:50) Alexander introduces himself, his art, and how he supports individuals and groups to create their masterpieces.

(12:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - dedicated, excited, [blank] - and compares himself to a stirred-up bottle of kombucha. Alexander asked the question, “Who stirred the jar?” And he tells a  recent story about painting a glacier in Switzerland.

(21:45) Alexander reflects on all of his different art projects, how climate and equity are tied together, and how masks have been created throughout history.

(25:50) Alexander tells the story of his Vincent Van Gogh mask. Then, he shares what is behind it - feelings that he is not quite enough and needs to push harder to be heard, and the truth that embracing his wounds allows him to be in touch with his greatest gift.

(34:45) Ashanti and Alexander continue discussing the importance of getting out of our heads and sitting with our hearts and our guts.

(45:30) Then, they discuss the importance of embracing the darkness - sitting with the negative emotions that lead to change.

(51:30) Alexander shares how you can get in touch with him.

(54:00) Alexander shares the mask he made in addition to the Vincent Van Gogh mask.

(1:01:50) Alexander shares some final thoughts with the listeners.

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Connect with Alexander Inchbald:

Website: alexander-inchbald.com

Facebook: facebook.com/artisinside

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/becreativeeverywhere

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

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]

---

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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“I started to be selfish because I didn’t want to be hurt… Even how someone’s day was… If it didn’t matter to me, then I would not give it attention. This is awful. This is awful… Walls that I put around myself to block myself from being hurt… When you start to do this, you start to be alone.” - André Portela

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by André Portela. 20 years old and from Fortaleza, Ceará, André now lives in São Paulo, Brazil. He is set to graduate with a degree in Educomunicação, a mix of communication and education, following in the tradition of his mother. He also works with the Ever Forward Club, supporting the Million Mask Movement as a graphic and video content creator. In this conversation, Ashanti and André discuss how what we display on the surface differs from what exists on the inside - as it relates to what it even means to be “special” and what we do in an effort to prevent ourselves from being hurt. Please enjoy.

(9:30) André introduces himself, his work with the Ever Forward Club, his life in Brazil, and his passion for education.

(15:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - dedicated, busy, caring - and they discuss how they’re learning to be effective rather than busy. Then, they analyze why people choose not to burden others with their problems.

(26:20) André shares the front of his mask - hero, mature, special - and how his desire with projecting this quality has changed over time. Then, he and Ashanti continue discussing the word “special”, how we define it, and the different relationships people have with bragging.

(42:10) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - worried, resisting rest, negative self-talk. André subsequently relates to Ashanti’s negative self-talk.

(48:30) André shares the back of his mask - selfish, spoiled, mistakes - and how these are all different walls he’s put around himself to protect himself from being hurt.

(1:00:30) Then, Ashanti and André discuss how we might allow ourselves to lower our guard and allow ourselves to be hurt again.

(1:04:10) André shares some final thoughts.

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Connect with André Portela:

Instagram: instagram.com/andregportela

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andregportela

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

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]

---

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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“We all create this idea that we’re OTHER, rather than, ‘our experiences may be other, but, actually, our emotions are identical.’” - Gidai Maaza

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Gidai Maaza. Gidai is a son, father, husband, and community member. Having survived the refugee camp experience with his mother by way of Ethiopia in the early 80s, Gidai turned his trauma into awareness and insight that inform how he views people's pain. Now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, we’re excited for you to see how Gidai has reimagined the mask analogy into a framework that helps him stay grounded and connected to all of humanity.

(8:15) Gidai introduces himself, his Ethiopian roots, his work in the mental health field, and his ties to Fresno, California. Then, he and Ashanti compare group work to one on one support and therapy.

(14:35) Gidai why he believes there is no front and back of the mask, but rather two halves of the same whole. His “kid part” - a 2-year-old boy who’s observant, quiet, and comes from survival; 10-year-old boy in transition; and a 16-year-old boy that is angry. His “41-year-old part” - wise, grounded, emotionally present, rational, spirited.

(22:55) In response to Gidai, Ashanti changes his mask and reflects on equanimity. Then, he reflects on all the years he’s spent stuffing his thoughts and emotions, and how this stuffing eventually comes due.

(26:55) Ashanti describes his 15-year-old self and his 7-year-old self, and how these places in life were pivotal in shaping who he became and how he interacted with his teachers.

(35:15) Gidai explains how our experiences may be different but our emotions are identical.

(38:05) Gidai breaks down acknowledging and guiding one’s emotions and feelings as opposed to catering to them.

(42:40) Ashanti and Gidai compare and contrast the experiences of Africans and African Americans.

(49:45) Ashanti and Gidai conclude their conversation and reflect on all of the things they’ve covered.

(55:45) Gidai shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Gidai Maaza:

Instagram: instagram.com/gmaazalmft

Facebook: facebook.com/GidaiMaazaLMFT

Website: gmaazalmft.com

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

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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“White folks need to realize that something’s been done to us - that we’re raced. Like, we’re not actually white… We were Polish, we were German, we were Irish. We’ve lost that ethnicity we’ve lost that culture, and our legacy is taking it from other folks, right? I still have work to do on exploring my own family… We actually have more ability to research our people and find them, and yet we still don’t do the work. Why is that? ‘Cause we’re afraid of what we’re gonna find.” - Jason Biehl

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jason Biehl. Jason is an antiracist educator, born and raised in Washington, D.C., with over 20 years of experience working in education with youth from diverse backgrounds. In 2017, he founded Change The Narrative, and he works collaboratively as an educational consultant to further racial equity within organizations and schools. Jason is a truly radical thinker, who clearly puts a high priority on his self-awareness and humility. We’re excited for you to gain his perspective on fighting racism :)

(8:15) Jason introduces himself, his work on the frontiers of antiracism, and a turning point in his life.

(14:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, hard-working, caring - and how being overly caring can lead to being hurt.

(18:05) Jason shares the front of his mask - playful/humor, outgoing/optimist, steady/reliable - then, he and Ashanti critique our standard email salutations.

(22:25) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - worried, heavy, what’s next - and shares some family matters that have been on his mind lately.

(26:25) Jason shares the back of his mask - scared, sad/grieving, self-doubt - and how these things apply both to his country and his inner self.

(32:50) Jason reflects on how difficult it was within his college culture when he switched his major to African American Studies.

(37:40) Ashanti and Jason continue discussing white allyship.

(41:30) Then, they discuss how men’s work stands in solidarity with other marginalized groups by exploring the cognitive dissonance of masculinity.

(51:40) Ashanti and Jason find common connections in the education and men’s work world, then they wrap up the conversation.

(56:00) Jason shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Jason Biehl:

Website: http://www.changethenarrative.me

Instagram: instagram.com/j.biehl

Twitter: twitter.com/JasonWBiehl

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jason-biehl-738171103

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: anchor.fm/branch-speaks/support

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]

---

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