“We need safe spaces in which guys can drop into that boyhood, that kicking the ball, or throwing the ball, or goofing around and roughhousing with each other or telling jokes, whatever it is… Because being in those moments and acting that way, I believe, takes us back to a boyhood element of ourselves, which at some point was beaten out of us… ‘That’s immature. What you’re doing, you can’t be doing. Stop!’ What that does though is it cuts us off from the bridge that takes us to those other places of vulnerability where we really do need to share from. The boyhood energy is the bridge to get to the vulnerability for us.” - Noam Raucher

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Noam Raucher. As a spiritual coach, men’s coach, rabbi, classroom teacher, and father of two, Noam navigates many roles at home and in the community. Because of this, Noam is deeply reflective about masculinity, as it relates to his inner critic and the spiritual stories connected to the critic inside all of us. Please enjoy this engaging conversation!

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(6:30) Noam introduces himself, his work in the classroom and in coaching, and his identity and Jewish faith. He and Ashanti discuss the significance of finding meaning in life, and the role education plays.

(15:00) Noam shares the front of his mask - strong, smart, compassionate.

(17:00) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - serious, intense, funny - and he and Noam discuss how they are learning to celebrate themselves and wrestle with their inner critic more often.

(29:15) Noam shares the back of his mask - depression, questionable self-worth, “stupid?”, failure.

(30:50) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, self-doubt, worry/letting go.

(37:00) Noam and Ashanti discuss and dissect all of the markers of traditional masculinity that are reinforced by what our culture defines as attractive.

(48:30) Then, Noam and Ashanti consider what it really means to be on a team, and what it would take for men to be more open to asking for help.

(52:00) Noam shares some last words for the listeners and how you can reach out to him.

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Connect with Noam Raucher:

Website: RabbiRaucher.com

Facebook: facebook.com/noam.raucher

Instagram: instagram.com/noamraucher

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/noam-raucher-20933b164

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Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org/global-young-mens-conference-2025 

Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 

Email us questions and comments at [email protected] 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

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

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

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

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

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