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

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by mask maker and artist, Freehand Profit, also known as Gary Lockwood. Gary began making masks ten years ago, starting a movement on his blog called “Mask 365”, in which he created one mask every day for a year. Now with over 161,000 Instagram followers, he has become known for reimagining and taking apart sneakers, transforming them into one of a kind masks.

(1:39) Ashanti's introduction.

(5:30) Gary introduces how he started making masks, struggling to find his place in the art world, and how sneakers and the surrounding sneaker culture are symbols for the “front of the mask”.

(11:44) Gary and Ashanti share the front of their masks and find common ground in their hard-working nature.

(18:48) Before exploring the back of their masks, Gary analyzes why he has a tendency to delay doing the necessary internal work to maintain his own health - something Ashanti deals with as well.

(21:20) Then Ashanti connects Gary’s battle with depression to his own fear of failure, and with his sadness about his father’s death.

(24:15) Gary’s thoughts on self-doubt lead into a discussion about the double-edged sword of seeking recognition, setting and reaching goals, and how ultimately extrinsic reinforcement will never be enough.

(29:41) Ashanti talks about the mental health of his brother, who battles paranoid schizophrenia, before both men share their battle with body image issues.

(34:36) This leads into thoughts about “the story we tell ourselves”, and how we are biased towards the outside voices that are also confirming whatever messages of self-doubt repeat in our heads.

(37:22) After taking a breath, Ashanti and Gary talk about how sneaker culture can cause people to do self-destructive things; and then Ashanti shares how he fell victim to the “what are those” gag in school.

(40:49) Finally, Gary gives insight into his artistic vision and process behind his art, and Ashanti shares the details of his work with youth.

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Check out Freehand’s

Website: Freehandprofit.com

Instagram/Twitter: @FreehandProfit

Patreon: patreon.com/freehandprofit

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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]

Send in a voice message:

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

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by fellow Fremont High School alumni; Dean of Students at Latitude High School in Oakland, CA; and music artist, magazine curator, and podcast host Noxhe Galactica, also known as Christian Martinez.

Christian is our first educator on the platform, and the flow and connection is evident, to the point where the men are moved to share the back of their masks before even sharing the front:

(3:15) Ashanti introduces the episode.

(5:30) Christian introduces himself and his podcast.

(7:30) We learn about Christian’s deep connection with his ancestry, how he and Ashanti crossed paths previously at Fremont High, and how he excels as an educator.

(10:45) Christian and Ashanti discuss how they found education to be their calling, and how deep connections go beyond what is taught during teacher trainings.

(17:30) We dive into the back of Christian’s mask, and how his journey through personal pain included being shot at age 15, and losing his father shortly after.

(21:20) Ashanti shares the back of his mask, and they explore what it’s like to feel like you are not enough, and what it’s like to be in a culture that discourages celebrating yourself and your achievements.

(25:25) They discuss the front of their masks, and the idea that the front of the mask is actually an expression of the insecurities behind it.

(30:30) Ashanti and Christian continue to dive into their past, how toxic masculinity begins at the youngest of ages, and how both have first hand experiences with people battling depression and suicide.

(38:30) The power goes out at Ashanti’s home, moving the men to discuss what “survival mode” means to Christian and Christian’s theory of life, before wrapping up the conversation and learning more about Christian’s work.

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We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255, and suicidepreventionlifeline.org

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Check out Noxhe Galactica's

Podcast - soundcloud.com/nochegalactica/pantera

Swimgood Clothing Brand - www.instagram.com/swimgoodbrand/

Magazine - issuu.com/search?q=noxhegalactica

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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]

Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:    www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/ashantibranch

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

In this Podcast, Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by New York Times Bestselling author, Lewis Howes, author of the hit book,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Send in a voice message:

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

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

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

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by former student and graduating high school senior, Clive Bryan Jr.

(6:23) The conversation starts with Clive introducing himself, which prompts himself and Ashanti to reflect on the ups and downs of their relationship.

(20:07) Next, Ashanti and Clive share the front of their masks,

(21:17) then share and discuss the back of their masks.

(31:30) Finally, they reflect on the mask making process and how it has allowed Clive to continue to grow comfortable with lowering his emotional guards.

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Send in a voice message:

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

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

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

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. In this conversation between Alam and Alberto, they realize how seeing each other each day did nothing for their connection until they sat down and had a conversation around the masks that they were seeing and wearing each day.

(7:34) Alam and Alberto introduce the mask making process,

(11:35) then discuss the front of their masks,

(21:43) before discussing the back of their masks.

(58:39) Finally, they reflect on how going through the process together has allowed them to understand each other on a far deeper level than ever before, despite already being colleagues at Ever Forward Club .

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Send in a voice message:

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

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

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

Trigger Warning: In this conversation the subject of suicide is talked about as Breno reflects on his friend who took his life.

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Breno Teixeira, an alumni of Ever Forward Club programming in São Paulo, Brazil.

(4:18) They discuss Ashanti’s inspiration for the podcast,

(5:46) Breno’s interests in philosophy as a recent high school graduate, his history with Ever Forward Club in Brazil, as well as his experience founding the non-profit Construindo o Futuro with his late friend,

(20:24) and then finally wrap up by discussing the power of listening without judgement.

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Send in a voice message:

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

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

Connect with Ever Forward Club:

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

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

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

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

In this 2 minute montage, you will hear clips from our first 4 episodes. You will hear the voices of young men and men getting real about challenges in their lives. You will hear some of the experiences that men have faced in their lives when they are courageous and willing to be vulnerable. They have joined this movement to help other boys and men realize that #YouAreNotAlone and that there are other boys and men who are dealing with similar challenges and life experiences.

You will hear powerful phrases of people getting real, going into their hearts, and sharing some of the challenges that have brought them to where they are today.

A brief introduction to the Taking Off The Masks Podcast.