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

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Kevin Romero. Kevin is a young college student with an emotional wisdom that goes beyond his years. After sharing their masks, Ashanti and Kevin engage in a deep, philosophical discussion on emotional burdens - how much should the individual be responsible for handling their own emotions, and what is the role of the individual’s peers, significant other, family, and friends in this emotional burden?

(3:55) After finishing setting a brand new podcast website with the help of Ashanti, Kevin shares why he wants to inspire others.

(6:40) Ashanti and Kevin reflect on how they met, and the what ifs that came with it.

(11:25) Kevin introduces himself, an El Salvadorian college student raised in Oakland, California.

(13:50) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - caring, hard working, serious - and how his care manifests in multiple ways.

(17:05) Kevin shares the front of his mask - loud, positive, joyful, funny, energetic.

(20:30) Kevin shares the back of his mask - scared, non energetic, I’m in fear, I went through things to get where I am now. He then shares why he feels like he has nothing to hide on the inside, and how he feels burdened by the relationships that count on him to lift them up.

(23:30) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, sadness about death, trauma. He reflects on what it was like to grow up without a mentor, in a culture that encourages toughness and individualism.

(26:05) Kevin pushes Ashanti to share more about death and family trauma. He explores both the passing of his father and his grandmother.

(32:30) Kevin shares when he became aware of how emotional masks hide who we really are, after ending an unhealthy relationship. He then explores how sometimes the most outwardly excited people have the most to share behind the mask.

(37:25) Ashanti and Kevin discuss what constitutes a healthy balance between going to others for emotional help, and trying to rely on yourself.

(47:15) Kevin shares how he has always been someone with a girlfriend, how this is the first time in a long time he isn’t in a relationship, and what he has learned about the burden of emotions in this new phase of his life.

(55:45) Ashanti gives Kevin advice about how to burden and unburden emotions in a sustainable way.

(1:09:10) Kevin shares his final thoughts.

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Connect with Kevin Romero:

Instagram: instagram.com/ayyy_kevin

Twitter: twitter.com/ayyy_kevin

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Earl Crawford Jr. Earl is a director and principal of multiple programs that serve at-risk youth. He views himself as a “servant leader”, but prefers to leave out the word “leader.” Ashanti and Earl work in the same field. But beyond discussing the world of education, they take off their masks and explore their fears, their family relationships, and how life can be summed up with a tortoise and a hare.

(1:29) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:30) Earl introduces himself and his work, and Ashanti shares how they have overlapped in education circles.

(7:20) Ashanti walks Earl through his first time making a mask.

(11:05) Earl and Ashanti share the fronts of their masks. Earl - engaging, hopeful, strong, Ashanti - caring, hard working, dedicated.

(13:55) Earl shares the back of his mask - domestic violence perpetrator and victim, vulnerability, when I’m hurt or sad. He reflects on his tendency to withdraw from vulnerable situations, while still seeking the relief derived from sharing. He also shares how he feels like the traits on the front and back of his mask can be taken advantage of.

(16:05) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness, childhood trauma. He shares how social media has put himself in touch with a multitude of fears. Earl then encourages Ashanti by taking the tortoise and the hare fable to the next level, and Ashanti reflects on how he has become older and wiser.

(23:22) Ashanti and Earl find commonality in their respective careers in education, as well as their lives as students in the very same city and system that they serve.

(28:00) Ashanti and Earl break down Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s “We Wear the Masks”, and what it means for both students and adults in the education system.

(30:35) Earl shares his experiences, important learnings, and regrets as a father.

(35:44) Earl gives a message to young people who may be hesitant to make a mask.

(36:55) Earl shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Earl Crawford Jr.

Instagram: instagram.com/encjr81

Twitter: twitter.com/encjr81

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/earl-c-40646014

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Luis Canseco. Luis speaks with both youth and adults about domestic violence prevention, and he believes that early prevention and vulnerability are the keys to reducing violence and building a better world. Ashanti and Luis connect over their love of Oaxaca, and discuss how experiences being bullied as children shaped them and their future work advocating for social justice.

(1:48) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:27) Luis introduces himself, his work, his beliefs on how to achieve a healthier sense of masculinity in our society, and his ties to Oaxaca.

(7:16) Ashanti shares his connection to Oaxaca and drops some knowledge on masks and Lucha Libre.

(12:04) Ashanti and Luis share the fronts of their masks. Ashanti - funny, caring, hard working. Luis - loving, genuine, vulnerable.

(15:09) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness, trauma. He reflects on how he wants to approach his day with more fearlessness, confronting a list of fears that he considers to be long.

(17:49) Luis shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, imposter syndrome, anxiety. He shares how he masks his anxiety during presentations. Then, Ashanti and Luis discuss how coming to the US at age 12 and being bullied led to his imposter syndrome.

(23:14) Ashanti and Luis share more about their experiences being bullied as children. They discuss how it is hard to speak up for oneself when being bullied. Instead, Luis expressed himself through rebellion, fighting, and cutting school, and this rebellion opened his eyes to the inequities in and around his community.

(31:58) Ashanti shares how Luis’s life in Vista is similar to Oakland, and how Luis reminds him of students Ashanti has worked with at the Ever Forward Club.

(36:30) Luis reflects on how his parent’s belief in him played a huge role in his shift away from trouble. Just like his parents and his professor mentors, Luis now expresses this same belief when working with youth and leading with his own vulnerability.

(44:42) Luis shares how he will use the mask activity in his workshops, shares his final message, and lets the audience know how to contact him.

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If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying, please visit and explore the resources at nobully.org.

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Connect with Luis Canseco:

Instagram: instagram.com/lfercanseco

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/luis-canseco-9691971a5

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch gives some updates and news around the EFC. He then shares the story of an Ever Forward Club member and student leader, Sam R.

Here are some updates:

(1:47) An Ever Forward Club student and Ashanti are appearing on the Kelly Clarkson Show, on April 7, 2021, at 3 pm PST. Learn how you can watch the program on NBC or online.

(3:46) Alameda High School submitted 1,850 new masks, during a school wide Taking Off The Mask workshop, led by student leadership. Ashanti shares what the experience was like.

(6:18) Learn how the Ever Forward "Peer Mentoring" project works and spreads by empowering young people.

(9:44) Ashanti shares thoughts on schools getting ready to resume in-person instruction; how big of an adjustment it is going to be for students, their communities, and teachers; and the social-emotional implications of this transition.

(14:13) Ashanti gives praise for Sam R. and the story he shared with over 100 student leaders at Alameda High School.

(17:45) Learn about the launch of the "Ever Forward Club Adventure" card game.

(18:51) Listen to Sam’s story about how he overcame serious injuries to his body, and a fire at his and his family's home.

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

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

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Smiley Poswolsky. Adam is a person full of empathy, and his desire to build understanding for the common good comes across in this conversation. As a millennial workplace expert, his goal is to foster a sense of belonging in the digital age. Currently he is de-stigmatizing loneliness in his newest book, “Friendship in the Age of Loneliness.”

(1:45) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:30) Smiley introduces himself and his work as an author and millennial workplace expert. Then he and Ashanti reflect on how their work and their relationship has evolved over time.

(11:12) Ashanti and Smiley share the front of their masks. Ashanti - funny, serious, hard-working. Smiley - happy, successful, expert.

(14:02) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness, mental health. They discuss negative self-talk, downplaying one’s own work and ability, and how comparison is the thief of joy.

(17:07) Smiley shares the back of his mask - lonely, sad, unsure. He shares how the pandemic has exacerbated his sadness and loneliness, and how he has always oscillated between feeling like an expert and feeling like he doesn’t have the answers.

(26:01) The men discuss Smiley’s book, “Friendship in the Age of Loneliness”, as it pertains to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to Ashanti’s work with youth. They also discuss how loneliness is a subjective experience, as opposed to something that can be measured objectively.

(29:37) Next, they discuss the stigma of admitting loneliness, and how an extroverted, actively social person can still be lonely.

(34:50) Smiley shares how he got the nickname “Smiley” as an adolescent. They discuss how this experience made him feel a sense of belonging, and how opportunities for a sense of belonging are more available for adolescents than they are for adults.

(39:30) As an expert on how the digital age has changed our society, Smiley shares his lesson for young people.

(42:45) Smiley shares how to get in touch with him.

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Connect with Adam Smiley Poswolsky:

Instagram: instagram.com/whatsupsmiley

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adamsposwolsky

Website: smileyposwolsky.com

Book: amazon.com/Friendship-Age-Loneliness-Optimists-Connection/dp/0762472278

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Roa. Adam is a renowned artist, poet, and coach. Beyond his millions of YouTube views, Adam is known for being radically vulnerable and open with his emotions. In this conversation, Adam and Ashanti discuss fulfillment, discovering the "magic" of life, and how a giving people the right emotional tools can change perspectives and lead to healthier, happier lifestyles.

(1:42) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:55) Adam introduces himself and his purpose in life.

(10:25) Ashanti and Adam recall how they met. And Adam shares how he came up with the idea for his poem “Masks”, a poem closely aligned with Ashanti’s work.

Check out the poem here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXO8qAaIESc

(17:20) After Adam shares why it was hard for him to stay in an authentic relationship with an image conscious celebrity, the two men discuss what “fulfillment” means to them, and why “lifestyle” is more important than “accomplishments".

(28:55) Adam and Ashanti share the fronts of their masks. Adam - smart, hard worker, caring. Ashanti - funny, caring, serious, hard working.

(29:45) Adam shares the back of his mask - uncertain, fear of failure, anger. He shares how uncertainty and fear of failure are on his mind despite his success, and how he is learning to utilize anger.

(31:55) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness about death, brother’s mental health. This leads Adam and Ashanti into a discussion about faith and “the magic” of life. They discuss how these concepts apply to themselves, as well as how they apply to the young people Ashanti works with.

(38:48) Adam and Ashanti then explore the difference between being excited and being nervous.

(42:05) Next, the two men discuss how poetry and art can simplify complex emotions for those that are struggling, and how creating art can give people tools to process trauma.

(49:15) Adam shares a final message for young people, before sharing where you can find him and get in touch.

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Connect with Adam Roa

Instagram: instagram.com/adam.roa; instagram.com/thedeepdive

Facebook: facebook.com/IAmAdamRoa

Websites: adamroa.com; surrenderedartist.org; thecreatecommunity.com

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Keita Demming. In addition to his work with The Covenant Group, Keita is interested in how our society can have better conversations. Keita's grandmother passed away recently before the recording of this podcast, and Ashanti lost his grandmother a year ago, so the men bond and reflect on where their emotions have taken them during the grieving process.

(1:36) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:05) Keita introduces himself, his work, and why he believes why doing small things exceptionally well is the best way to have a big impact.

(9:58) The two men share the fronts of their masks. Keita - thoughtfulness, knowledge, optimism. Ashanti - serious, caring, hard working.

(11:36) Keita shares the back of his mask - foresight, my deepest work, who I really am. He shares how he is still learning how to be humble, instead of being secretive.

(13:20) Keita reflects on the passing of his grandmother, the good and bad of a virtual funeral, and how close his bond was with his grandmother.

(16:56) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness about death, childhood trauma. Ashanti relates the passing of his own grandmother to Keita’s. Ashanti reflects on what his grandmother represents to him, and why he is upset that his family is selling his grandmother’s home.

(21:30) Keita talks about how he believes emotions are love notes to the self. He helps Ashanti unpack what "love note" Ashanti’s emotions are telling him, with regards to his grandmother.

(26:10) Keita shares why he believes he has only just begun the grieving process, and shares how he is applying what he has learned about his emotions to how he is raising his son.

(29:06) The men discuss the idea of emotional wounds and emotional scars. They discuss how this metaphor is multi-layered.

(33:31) Keita shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Keita Demming:

Instagram: instagram.com/kdemming/

Twitter: twitter.com/kdemming

LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/kdemming/

Website: www.betterconversationsproject.com

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: instagram.com/everforward

Facebook: facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: twitter.com/everforwardclub

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

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch hosts filmmaker Alex Gabbay, and author and lecturer Dr. Judy Chu, as the three panelists answer audience questions and discuss Alex’s new film "Beyond Men and Masculinity". In addition to discussing the effects of culture and hierarchy on child development, the panelists are joined by nine-year-old Lucian, the youngest member of Ever Forward Club’s newest boys’ circle, and high school senior Justin Odom, who has contributed significantly to the launch of the Ever Forward Club’s Peer Mentoring program.

(0:09) Ashanti gives background on the film and the panel. He then shares some masks that he collected while visiting Mexico and taking some youth through the mask-making process.

(6:40) The panelists discuss the question, “How do we get more men to say yes to showing up in vulnerable spaces, and how do we create more of these spaces?”

(11:00) Lucian, a 9-year-old boy, shares what it is like being in a newly launched Ever Forward Club circle, for boys in grades 4 through 6.

(13:00) Justin, a high school senior based in Alameda, shares why he was drawn to the work of Ever Forward Club, especially while enduring the trials of a global pandemic.

(15:49) Alex shares where people can view Beyond Men and Masculinity and get in touch with him.

(17:10) The panelists consider the idea that promoting equality and democracy is a threat to masculinity.

(21:21) Next, they address the question, “What are things that adults and students can practice daily to help shift men into more honest, vulnerable spaces?”

(27:34) The panelists discuss the question, “For mothers raising boys, what are ways to raise them to be emotionally healthy and break traditional male norms?”

(35:27) Next, they consider some of the similarities and differences around the concept of masculinity amongst different cultures.

(38:02) The next question raised is, “Is the solution to patriarchy a “co-archy”?”

(40:35) Alex shares information on another one of his films, The Price of Fairness, addressing the question, “what does it mean to be fair?”

(41:45) Finally, the panelists discuss two questions: “How should a parent gauge whether a child is too emotional? How do we move a child from acknowledging the themes of emotionality to actually practicing them?”

(46:23) Dr. Chu and Alex share some words with the audience.

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Connect with Alex Gabbay

Instagram: instagram.com/futureishumane

Twitter: twitter.com/futureishumane

To See the Full film: https://thefutureishumane.vhx.tv/

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Connect with Dr. Judy Chu

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juchu

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Thomas Sage Pedersen. Thomas hosts the podcast Speak For Change, works as CEO of the award winning music school Everyone's Music School, serves on the Steering Committee for Santa Cruz County’s Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity, and is a Certified Kingian Nonviolence Trainer. Thomas and Ashanti share their masks, and their conversation centers mostly around Parker Palmer’s idea of a “Critical Gap” that exists between one’s own world as it is, and one’s own world as he/she wants it to be.

(1:36) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:04) Thomas introduces himself, his podcast, his work as the CEO of Everyone’s Music school, and his community work in Santa Cruz.

(5:00) Ashanti appeared on Thomas’s podcast, and they reflect on the experience as it relates to “taking off the mask”

(8:11) Thomas shares what it was like making a mask, and why he tried the exercise twice.

(10:00) Thomas and Ashanti share the fronts of their masks. Thomas - passion and dedication, empathy and compassion, lightheartedness. Ashanti - funny, caring, hard working.

(10:55) Thomas reflects on how he puts on a "front" during stressful situations, and how re-examining his first mask led to a deeper exploration of self. Ashanti reflects on why caring is an integral part of his personality.

(15:30) Thomas and Ashanti share the back of their masks. Thomas - insecure, playful, sensitive. Ashanti - fear of failure, trauma, mental health.

(17:48) Thomas relates to Ashanti’s experiences with family members that have mental health issues, and shares how mental health issues are symptoms of our societal value system.

(19:50) The two men discuss their insecurities. They discuss how it is hard to be objective about whatever they may be insecure of, since insecurity is an emotional, subjective experience that leads to extreme behaviors - unless we learn to accept ourselves and reframe our self-improvement goals.

(29:25) Thomas and Ashanti discuss Parker Palmer’s idea of a “Critical Gap” between the world as it is, and the world as one wants it to be. They discuss how acknowledging this gap can allow one to make incremental, healthy progress.

(37:33) They then share how embracing one’s identity, one’s strengths and weaknesses, allows for a more authentic and productive life. They also acknowledge the other side, how certain identities and characteristics are connected to gender and gender conformity. Unfortunately, for men, being playful and sensitive leads to negative experiences when rubbing up against the dominant culture.

(52:41) Thomas shares how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Thomas Sage Pedersen

Website: linktr.ee/speakforchangepodcast; everyonesmusicschool.com

Instagram: instagram.com/thomassagepedersen

Facebook: facebook.com/speakforchangepodcast

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Rosendahl. As a creative entrepreneur and the Chief Experience Officer of Late Nite Art, Adam sees art as a means to humanize individuals and build connections. The two men discuss what it takes to maintain creativity while leading their respective organizations.

(1:33) Ashanti’s introduction.

(3:28) Adam introduces himself and his work, and then he and Ashanti share their friendship and its origins.

(9:22) Both men share the front of their masks: Adam - caring, adventurous, confident, creative; Ashanti - serious, funny, caring, hard working.

(10:09) Adam reflects on the front of his mask - how being caring can be a beautiful quality in a man, but at times he finds himself sacrificing for others at the expense of his own emotions. Adam also shares how proud he is of his work, and how it keeps him connected to his childhood qualities.

(13:15) Ashanti reflects on the front of his mask - why he has started to write “caring” on his mask every time, and what it’s like to have to oscillate between being a mentor and a boss. Adam then shares how he is similar and different when running his organization.

(17:52) Both men share the back of their masks: Adam - restless, worried, passive-aggressive; Ashanti - fear of failure, sadness, trauma.

(18:45) Adam reflects on the back of his mask - how he is working on addressing conflict head on, working on being okay with making others uncomfortable. He also shares how he is working on channeling his worries in a more loving, caring manner.

(22:05) Ashanti reflects on the back of his mask - how having one-sided interactions with individuals can be a detriment to success. He also shares an internal dissonance he has been tackling this year - how he is in the business of allowing young men to release their anger, yet he has not allowed himself to release emotions in the same way.

(33:00) The men discuss the power of developing and implementing a more specific, self-aware, emotional vocabulary.

(37:04) They discuss the balancing act that occurs when one wants to hold oneself accountable to high standards, but still needs to admit when one needs help and support to achieve these standards.

(43:00) Ashanti and Adam look back on the first day they met, at a workshop that built in time for everyone to decorate their name tags.

(47:31) Adam shares one last message about the power of saying something out loud, and how this act can release the power that insecurities and vulnerabilities may have over you.

(51:25) Learn about Adam’s current projects.

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Connect with Adam Rosendahl

Website: www.lateniteart.com

Instagram:.instagram.com/adam_rosendahl & instagram.com/lateniteart

Facebook: facebook.com/lateniteart

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Email: [email protected]