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

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jason Gant. Jason is a San Francisco native who brings an international perspective to his work in mental health and athletics. He has collaborated with and supported the youth of Ever Forward Social-Emotional Leadership Academy. Ashanti discusses Jason's curios, adventurous nature, and what he has learned while abroad.

(1:24) Ashanti’s introduction.

(3:55) Jason introduces himself. In addition to his experiences with mental health, we learn about his experience with entrepreneurial management and his travels in Spain and Taiwan.

(7:14) Jason shares the front of his mask - curious, joy, adventurous.

(8:16) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, caring, hard-working. He shares how “caring” has become a new word on the front of his mask that he’s been reflecting on, and how it often replaces where he usually writes “funny”.

(9:55) Jason shares the back of his mask - victim, hyperrational, intense. He reflects on how these words change over time. He shares what it was like to write these words down for the first time, after seeing these descriptors in a personality test he recently took. He talks about what it’s like finding a balance between the front and the back, and how acquiring more mental health tools has helped him.

(13:12) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness about death, his brother’s mental health. He shares that it was recently his brother’s birthday, and how he builds empathy and handles the frustrations of having a brother with paranoid schizophrenia.

(19:27) Jason shares how he found his current niche - developing the mental skills of athletes - while wandering the streets of Spain and providing space for his mind to ponder. He then shares what he learned about mental health, during the most intense moments of competitive sports, and how he can help athletes access peak performance in these moments.

(28:37) Jason shares his final thoughts on the mask-making process, and how you can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Jason Gant

Twitter: twitter.com/myvillagetribe

Instagram:.instagram.com/myvillagetribe

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/myvillagetribe

Email: [email protected]

Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=n_ZAkEvn5MQ&t=51s

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Check out the USA premiere of Beyond Men and Masculinity:

gofund.me/e5d204ee

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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]

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Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Charles Luis Herñañdez, or “Chuck”. Among many things, Chuck is “a man on a mission to lose 300 lbs”. In this conversation, Ashanti and Chuck discuss how each man has gained purpose and inspiration from their friendship.

(1:20) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:05) Chuck introduces himself, the origins of his nickname, his family, his work in education, as well as his passion for projects in music and video. They reflect on how a chance meeting with Ashanti at a conference has grown into a friendship.

(10:42) Chuck talks briefly about starting a health group before he and Ashanti talk broadly about how they both have set and are on the pathway to achieving their weight loss goals. They each share their vulnerabilities around food addiction and how they have both inspired one another.

(21:28) Chuck and Ashanti make their masks together.

(25:50) Chuck shares the front of his mask - glowing, humorous, neutral, before Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, hard-working, caring. They discuss how these facets of themselves play a role in how each navigates the world, how these facets hold each man accountable to certain standards, and how Ashanti holds the youth he works with to certain standards.

(39:20) Chuck shares the back of his mask - pain, physical pain, neutrality. He shares how each item on the back of his mask is connected to a specific item on the front.

(41:55) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - food addiction, sadness, fear of failure. He shares how his mother helped him open his eyes to the concept of food addiction, and how he has just recently been able to properly name and acknowledge this addiction.

(49:05) We learn about Chuck’s current projects - his podcast, social media, and the feature-length documentary he has been working on. He reflects on how making the documentary has been therapeutic, allowing him to look at his past and process it.

(52:00) Chuck shares some final thoughts on the documentary, and how he is learning to aim beyond his targets and goals in life.

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Connect with Chuck Herñañdez:

Instagram:.instagram.com/fat.talk/

Facebook: facebook.com/startedwiththebottlenowimfat

Documentary Trailer: instagram.com/p/CJPa3dFg5Nb/

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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]

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Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Aaron Jackson. Aaron is a student at the University of San Francisco. Based in Oakland, CA, he was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle’s coverage of the Bay Area’s 2020 graduating high school senior class. Ashanti and Aaron make masks together, and share their similar experiences with the passing of family members.

(1:12) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:13) Aaron shares what his southern background means to him, and why he enjoys living in the Bay Area.

(10:33) Ashanti walks Aaron through the mask-making process.

(13:27) Aaron shares the front of his mask - a can-do attitude, optimism, enthusiasm, resilience.

(16:15) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - hard working, caring, serious.

(18:20) Aaron shares the back of his mask - past experiences, anxiety. He shares how he believes in focusing on a brighter future as opposed to dwelling on the past. And he reflects on how he tends to overthink in certain situations, which can be overwhelming.

(20:03) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, childhood trauma, sadness about death. He shares with Aaron how he is overcoming his fear of sharing videos with his followers, how he is only just recently confronting his childhood traumas, and how his father’s and grandmother’s passing have affected him.

(23:06) Aaron opens up about how he has had similar experiences with trauma and death. These experiences cause him to not share his past with many people he meets. He recalls the pain he has felt over not being able to speak with his mother one last time after his parents divorced, since she passed away soon after Aaron and his father left for California.

(26:31) Aaron reflects on the mask-making experience, relates this experience to restorative justice circles, and shares how other men his age need to do this type of work more.

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Connect with Aaron Jackson:

Instagram: instagram.com/aaron.jjr

SF Chronicle Feature: projects.sfchronicle.com/class-of-2020/summer

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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]

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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

Everforward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dan Doty. Dan has done it all, from writing, to meditation teaching, to men's coaching, to wilderness exploring, to podcasting, to filmmaking... Ashanti's relationship with Dan includes an appearance on Dan's podcast, as well as a retreat into Joshua Tree with Evryman. In this conversation, Dan and Ashanti explore the fronts and backs of their masks, and they reflect on what it means to break the "rules" of masculinity, and whether there are any rules to begin with.

(1:54) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:25) Dan introduces himself, his background, and the wide variety of work he does and has done; then Dan and Ashanti recall past adventures, specifically an Evryman retreat at Joshua Tree.

(8:23) Dan shares the front of his mask - strong, caring, creative. He shares how he makes sure to keep the front of his mask representative of his authentic self.

(10:29) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, hard-working. He then ponders why he has never written “caring” on the front of his mask, and shares that he often struggles to find a balance between his funny self and his serious self when running the Ever Forward Club.

(12:33) We learn about the similarities and differences between Dan and Ashanti’s experiences rubbing up against stereotypes as school teachers.

(15:50) Dan shares the back of his mask - scared and full of fear, hopeless, angry, feeling as if he does not have things in his life together. We learn about how Dan feels all these things are connected, and connected to the state of the world.

(17:55) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, sadness, trauma. Ashanti relates to Dan’s feelings, and how his insecurities are connected to Ashanti’s tendency to compare himself to others. We learn the many ways that Ashanti wants to push his comfort zone in 2021.

(21:22) The men explore the idea that, with our career and our passions, we are trying to create the things that we lacked in childhood. And, after we achieve some of these milestones, they reflect on the many mental barriers and distractions that exist that prevent us from continuing to move forward.

(24:59) Dan shares what learned about vulnerability, mental health, and coping, while working on a pig farm in high school.

(26:42) Ashanti and Dan discuss the “rules of masculinity.” They question whether they are indeed rules, or if they are the manifestation of men lacking the tools to healthily express feelings.

(29:49) Dan shares how becoming a father further invigorates his work as a men’s coach, and Ashanti relates, with his work with young men.

(32:22) Dan shares a final message, and how we can get in touch with him.

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Connect with Dan Doty

Website: dandoty.com

Evryman: evryman.com

Instagram: instagram.com/danieldoty

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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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Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Big Bruh. Big Bruh is a family man, and the host of the podcast Live with Big Bruh. Ashanti and Big Bruh find common ground over hard work, experiences with grief and loss, and conquering the urge to numb pain with distraction instead of confronting pain with honesty and vulnerability.

(1:02) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:07) Big Bruh introduces himself. He talks about his family and what it’s like to record and host a podcast in a car, with his wife.

(9:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, hard working, funny. He shares how he felt as if he was moving slowly this past week, and how certain emotions played a role in this.

(10:20) Big Bruh shares the front of his mask - Hard working, honest, a provider. He reflects on how he picked up these traits from his father, and how he wants to pass these traits on to his seven year old son.

(12:15) Big Bruh breaks down what it was like making a mask for the first time.

(14:15) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear, sadness, trauma. He and Big Bruh discuss what happens when you don’t give yourself time to grieve. Ashanti hadn’t dealt with sadness over his grandmother’s passing, and Big Bruh relates, with similar experiences with his grandfather and his aunt.

(19:45) Ashanti and Big Bruh explore the trend that men shut down their emotions and numb these feelings with unhealthy behaviors.

(24:40) Big Bruh shares the back of his mask - stress, over thinker, failure. He shares how his habit of over thinking fuels his stress, and how his status as an illegal immigrant adds further stress. He then shares how a supportive marriage and family allows him to move forward.

(30:50) The two men then analyze what it means to “kill the messenger”, in an attempt to “ignore the message”. They consider how this affects young people today, and how Big Bruh broke out of this cycle, overcoming alcoholism.

(35:25) Ashanti shares thoughts on the book Cry Like a Man, by Jason Wilson. They discuss what happens when men turn off a part of their “humanness”.

(39:19) Big Bruh shares his final message for young men.

(44:08) Learn where to get in touch with Big Bruh.

(45:10) Ashanti shares thoughts on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Connect with Big Bruh

Podcast: livewithbigbruh.libsyn.com

Instagram: instagram.com/livewithbigbruh

Twitter: twitter.com/livewithbigbruh

Email: [email protected]

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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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Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jordon Hodges. Jordon is an alumnus of the Ever Forward Club, a former student of Ashanti at San Lorenzo High School, and a UC Irvine graduate, who now works and lives in Orange County, California. The two men discuss how one's expression of anger can change over the course of one's life, and they look back on their experiences at San Lorenzo High School from the perspectives of identity and emotional intelligence.

(1:15) Ashanti’s introduction.

(3:45) Jordan introduces himself - an Oakland native, a father, the first black valedictorian at San Lorenzo High School, and an HR Coordinator in the cannabis industry.

(5:40) Ashanti recollects his experiences with Jordon as his teacher at San Lorenzo High School. He remembers seeing himself in Jordon, and how Jordon had an impact on EFC, bringing more young men into the club through financial literacy training.

(10:20) Ashanti and Jordon make their masks together.

(14:16) Jordon shares the front of his mask - strong, funny, confident, and Ashanti shares his front - hard working, serious, funny. Jordon reflects on what it means to be black in Orange County, while Ashanti reflects on how the front of his mask plays a role as Executive Director of the Ever Forward Club.

(18:29) Jordon shares the back of his mask - sadness, anxiety, anger. He shares the good and the bad of how he has learned to convert sadness into anger, how he can be “active” with anger, whereas he cannot be “active” with depression.

(22:06) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - sadness, fear of failure, trauma. He reflects on how giving back to young men so much allowed him to avoid examining his own mask. He also shares what it was like to transition from engineering to teaching, and how giving up the prospects of financial success pushed him to strive for a deeper impact on the world.

(25:45) Jordon shares his family’s bouts with anger, and how it stemmed from being an emotional child. Over time, his anger matured into more calculated responses, and now, he is learning to let go of his anger.

(31:50) Ashanti and Jordon further examine their past at San Lorenzo High School. They discuss what it was like to be the first black male valedictorian, and how Jordon forged an identity based around a friend group diverse in identities and points of view.

(40:00) Ashanti shares a final story from the day of graduation, before restating his mission to build a space that helps men find peace and navigate their emotions.

(43:28) Ashanti and Jordon share their final thoughts.

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Connect with Jordon Hodges:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jordon-hodges-49138b4b/

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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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TOTM Face to Face is a series of podcasts where two or more young men undergo the process of making masks, a workshop activity created by Ashanti Branch. This conversation between Darnell and Marcel is the first time that the two men have ever spoken.

(1:05) Ashanti’s introduction.

(3:31) Darnell and Marcel “check in”, rating how they are feeling from a scale from 1 to 10 at this moment.

(4:23) The men create their masks, explain what the front of the mask means, and share what they currently have on the fronts of their masks.

(7:00) Darnell shares the back of his mask - scared, hurt, and disturbed. He opens up about his current situation with law enforcement, and how he is filled with the urge to defend his character.

(8:30) Marcel shares the back of his mask - fearful, anxious, insecure, worried, confused. He shares how the back of his mask is motivated by the uncertainty of the future, and the need to be patient about what is yet to come.

(10:22) Darnell and Marcel discuss how they relate to one another’s masks. Marcel consoles Darnell and gives advice about the current situation. Darnell opens up more about how he feels relieved to unburden himself of the stigma that comes with dealing with law enforcement.

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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:    www.instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter:   twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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Send in a voice message:

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram:    www.instagram.com/everforward

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter:   twitter.com/everforwardclub

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

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA). An accomplished leader, community-builder, and advocate for children and families, Shawn has held a prominent position as mentor in Ashanti's life. The two share a spiritual connection, an intangible brotherhood, and the fronts and backs of their masks flow and roll open without ever specifically naming the activity, happening through free-flowing conversation, story, and reflection.

(1:38) Ashanti introduces the podcast.

(4:11) Shawn and Ashanti reflect on the mantra of the season, the current state of affairs, the tumultuous year of 2020, and the importance of moving from extrinsic motivators to intrinsic ones.

(10:55) Shawn tells a story about his trip to Ghana and a retreat to Belize, where he feels that he faced death in the form of a dream - and his willingness to fight it gave him the conviction to continue his life’s work.

(19:45) Shawn and Ashanti reflect on when they first met and connected, the importance of setting lofty goals, and how fear is integral to the history of the Million Mask Movement, and how Ashanti is coming to terms with a particular moment in its history.

(28:50) They discuss impostor syndrome, and Shawn tells a story from his childhood about avoiding abduction as a 9-year-old boy in New York City. He shares how he is just now realizing this was trauma and not a badge of honor.

(38:20) Ashanti and Shawn begin taking off their masks.

(43:24) Then, they ruminate on the common idea that “comparison is the thief of joy”, and on how male vulnerability is now becoming more accepted in our culture - and what these concepts mean when looking back on their past, examining their present, and projecting into the future.

(52:33) Shawn shares details on his upcoming book, I Too Am America: On Loving and Leading Black Boys in America, and shares how sunsetting CBMA is preparing him for his third act.

(57:15) Shawn and Ashanti acknowledge a “kindred brotherhood”, and how Ashanti’s prior fears to reach out to Shawn in tough moments were always overcome by this deep connection.

(1:02:40) The men close the show, but not before Ashanti is interrupted by an unexpected visitor and is able to show off his bilingual chops.

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Check out Shawn's:

Twitter: twitter.com/DoveSoars

Instagram: instagram.com/shawn_dove

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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This week Ashanti Branch is joined by Mike Veny. Mike is a keynote speaker, who usually speaks on mental health topics, and is an author of multiple books, including Transforming Stigma: How to Become a Mental Wellness Superhero.

(1:37) Ashanti’s introduction.

(3:33) Mike shares his background with Ashanti, including his speaking experience, his own struggles with mental health, and the mission of his company. Ashanti then relates to Mike’s story with his experiences as a Vice Principal and with the Million Mask Movement.

(12:30) Ashanti and Mike make their masks together.

(16:37) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, hard-working. He reflects on being the man of the house at age 7, and what it was like to not have a consistent male figure at home as a child.

(19:50) Mike shares the front of his mask - joy, confidence, calm. They both relate to the fact that they do not unplug from work well, and they discuss the struggle of having “their own brands” in the social media era.

(27:24) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness about death, loneliness, childhood trauma. He shares how talking about his mask more publicly, as opposed to doing the mask activity anonymously, is new and provides even more healing.

(29:14) Mike shares the back of his mask - fear, insecurity, feeling worthless. He reflects on how he has recently been talking about and acknowledging his fear much more, and how he has been working with being present with himself more - without being dependent on the dopamine rush of social media likes.

(33:18) Mike and Ashanti discuss the natural human urge to be tribal, and how this gives us all the fear of being “excommunicated” from the group. They also ponder how this translates to the “Zoom Era” of communication.

(37:10) Mike takes us behind the curtain of his Youtube set up. And the men discuss how “comparison is the thief of all happiness.”

(42:29) Mike Veny shares his last message for the listeners, how taking off the mask is not a form of surrender, but rather an embrace of authentic human messiness.

(45:00) Mike shares his website, and what is next for him, which includes a third book and education content being posted on his website.

We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals: suicidepreventionlifeline.org; 1-800-273-8255

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Connect with Mike Veny:

Website: mikeveny.com

Twitter: twitter.com/mikeveny

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikeveny

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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:    www.instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter:   twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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On November 29th, 2020, Ashanti appeared on “Lost Boys,” an episode of Lisa Ling’s nationally televised CNN Program, This Is Life. The episode took on a whole new meaning when things were revealed that he was not yet ready to share with his mother, who was watching the program as it aired live.

(0:10) In Ashanti’s introduction he gives context for the special episode, leading up to a story he is going to tell about when he was 8 years old.

(3:50) Ashanti begins his story, about a tragic event that happened when he was 8 years old, and how he did not tell his mother because he decided that it was too much for her to handle, especially with his role as the "Man of the House"

(8:25) We learn how the incident disappeared from his memory, up until 2015 when he heard a similar story from another man.

(10:40) Ashanti shares the dissonance within: that his work is built around vulnerability, sharing things that people don’t normally share, and that he could not share this story from his childhood.

(12:00) We hear how Ashanti could never find a good time to tell his mom.

(13:15) Ashanti gives a breakdown of the night of the “Lost Boys” premiere, and how he felt as he realized what was being revealed to the world.

(16:38) We watch/listen to a video Ashanti made after watching this scene.

(18:08) Ashanti continues to reflect on why he hid this from his mom for so long and then shares what it was like talking to his mom after the episode ended.

(22:33) Ashanti reflects on how he was able to compartmentalize this trauma. He believes he did this subconsciously through eating.

(25:07) We learn more about Ashanti’s interview with Lewis Howes, and how even so many years after the incident that he couldn’t open up about his abuse, even after hearing Lewis’s story of abuse.

(28:23) Ashanti shares the sense of joy and healing that is coming through him now.

(31:23) Ashanti wraps up, and shares more about the Million Mask Movement and the Ever Forward Club.

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Youtube: Branch Speaks

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