Explore every episode of the podcast unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students

Dive into the complete episode list for unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

	Title	Pub. Date	Duration
	#91 \| Purpose With Balance: Sacred Purpose Without Sacrificing Yourself w/ Chris Chatmon	14 Oct 2026	00:43:53
What happens when your life is built around serving others—but the weight of that responsibility begins showing up in your body, your family, and the parts of yourself most people never see? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with Kingmakers of Oakland Founder and CEO Christopher P. Chatmon to explore Black male identity, brotherhood, leadership, vulnerability, health, ancestral wisdom, education, and what it means to build a life around sacred purpose without losing yourself in the process. Chris reflects on the people and experiences that shaped him—from being adopted into a family that taught him unconditional love and community, to raising three sons, becoming a grandfather, building movements for Black boys and young men, and learning that even leaders who appear strong, visionary, and grounded can carry tremendous weight behind the mask. This conversation dives into: How Chris’s adoptive parents shaped his understanding of identity, community, education, and unconditional love What it means to know “who you are” Why his life’s work has centered on helping young Black men recognize the greatness they already possess The importance of ancestral intelligence, Sankofa, and understanding the past in order to move forward Why leadership can be both a blessing and a tremendous weight The doubt and insecurity that can exist behind visionary leadership What Chris learned from navigating funding losses and having to lay off people he considered family Losing his younger brother after a long struggle with alcoholism and learning how love and boundaries can exist together How a heart attack forced him to reconsider stress, mindfulness, rest, and the way he had been modeling leadership Why leaders must learn to schedule their wellness with the same intentionality they schedule their work How becoming a grandfather changed his relationship with presence, joy, and the pace of life The challenge of working alongside your own children while allowing them to develop identities separate from your leadership Why young people do not need to be fixed—they need environments that help draw out what is already inside them Why proximity matters when adults are trying to understand a generation growing up with technology constantly in their hands How art, music, creativity, culture, and joy can become powerful gateways into deeper learning Why educators must lead with love, belonging, relationship, and belief in young people Ashanti and Chris explore the hidden weight of leadership, redefining strength as self-awareness, community, and care. Chris also challenges educators to see Black boys not as problems to fix, but as young people to listen to, affirm, and empower. A powerful conversation on leadership, wellness, belonging, Black male achievement, and creating spaces rooted in love and possibility. Connect with Christopher P. Chatmon Kingmakers of Oakland: https://www.kingmakersofoakland.org Podcast / YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingmakersofoakland Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babachris/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/babachris/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-chatmon-2429b511/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #LeadersStrenght #EducatorWellness #EmotionalHealth #LeadershipAndVulnerability
	#90 \| Connection More Than Performance: Your Students Don't Need a Perfect Teacher w/ Phil Januszewski	07 Oct 2026	00:46:26
What happens when educators stop waiting for the system to change before giving themselves permission to experience more joy—and begin paying attention to the small things they can control every day? In this episode of UnMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti talks with longtime educator, speaker, and author Phil Januszewski about resilience, vulnerability, student relationships, and educator burnout. They explore the emotions teachers show and hide, and why sustainable teaching means caring for yourself while continuing to show up with connection, humor, and love for students. This conversation dives into: Phil’s journey from science teacher to motivational speaker Why energy, humor, and love became central to his teaching The doubt, disappointment, and anger educators may hide Why educators can carry personal struggles into the classroom How human connection can transform the learning environment What helped Phil stay at the same school for 20 years Why supportive school culture matters for teacher retention How leadership can affect an educator’s ability to stay healthy Why people outside education may underestimate the demands of teaching How phones and social media have changed the classroom Why learning to sit with different perspectives still matters The story behind Phil’s book Too Damn Happy Why educators cannot always wait for the system to change How small choices can make teaching feel more sustainable Why educators should intentionally schedule things that bring them joy How music, food, humor, and personal interests can build classroom connection Why students need to see teachers as human beings How sharing mistakes can model humility and confidence for young people Why male educators can help boys see that vulnerability and strength can coexist How apologizing to students can build trust instead of weakening authority Why emotional safety creates stronger opportunities for learning How educators can balance connection with healthy boundaries Why students are more willing to follow teachers when they know they are genuinely cared for Ashanti and Phil explore what happens when educators let students see the person behind the profession. Phil reminds us that teaching doesn’t require perfection. Educators can feel frustration, doubt, and exhaustion while still creating space for joy, connection, humor, and love. If you care about teacher wellness, burnout, student relationships, classroom culture, and authentic teaching, this episode is for you. Connect with Phil Januszewski Phil’s New Book.. Pre-order now! Release date: October 15th⁠ Too Damn Happy: Flourishing in a Tired and Uninspired World https://philjanuszewski.com/new-book Email: phil@positivegrowthlounge.com Website: https://philjanuszewski.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/philjanuszewski Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/philjanuszewski Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PhilJanuszewskiSpeaks Youtube: https://youtube.com/@philjanuszewski?si=SUszTp7RJzc0zeAx Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philjanuszewski Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philjanuszewski Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #TeacherWellness #EducatorBurnout #EmotionalSafety #TeacherResilience #HumanConnection
	#89 \| Keeping the Imagination Alive: Learning, Teaching, and Becoming w/ Dr. Joseph Brown	30 Sep 2026	00:53:38
What happens when educators see themselves not only as teachers—but as conduits carrying history, culture, wisdom, and possibility from one generation to the next? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with educator, scholar, priest, writer, and longtime teacher Dr. Joseph Brown to explore education, Black history, identity, imagination, mentorship, spirituality, and the responsibility adults have to help young people dream beyond the limitations placed in front of them. At 82 years old and still teaching full-time, Dr. Brown reflects on knowing he wanted to become a teacher from the age of nine and the family message that shaped his life: “Get all the education you can.” This conversation dives into: Why education became Dr. Brown’s calling What he means by “spirit talking” How introversion shaped his experience as a student and educator Why he sees himself as a conduit for history The importance of intergenerational mentorship for Black boys Why literacy, storytelling, music, and art are connected to freedom How adults can keep young people’s imaginations alive Why students need to know they are more than how others define them How educators can recognize the spark in young people and help protect it Why communities must intentionally rebuild spaces where generations learn from one another Throughout the conversation, Ashanti and Dr. Brown explore how education happens far beyond the classroom—through books, stories, music, family, churches, barbershops, front porches, and relationships with adults willing to say, “Come with me. Let me show you something.” Dr. Brown reminds us that young people need more than information. They need imagination, history, connection, and people who help them see what is possible. As he says, we have to intentionally create the circle again. If you care about Black male educators, mentorship, Black history, literacy, student identity, culturally responsive education, creativity, or helping young people imagine bigger futures, this episode is for you. Connect with Joseph Brown Email: jbrownsj@siu.edu Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators#IntergenerationalMentorship #BlackHistory #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #StudentIdentity #PowerOfEducation ##IntergenerationalMentorship
	#88 \| Bad Lessons: What Schools Teach Black Boys Without Saying a Word w/ Matthew R. Morris	23 Sep 2026	00:46:04
What happens when Black boys are taught that they have to choose between being authentically themselves and being seen as intelligent, successful, or worthy of belonging in school? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with educator, writer, professor, and author Matthew R. Morris to explore Black masculinity, identity, schooling, academic expectations, authenticity, equity, and the hidden lessons young people learn inside and outside the classroom. Together, they reflect on the masks Black men carry, the narrowing opportunities young people see around them, and why truly supporting Black boys requires educators to move beyond stereotypes, saviorism, lowered expectations, and performative conversations about equity. This conversation dives into: Matthew’s mask: appearing concrete and clear while feeling soft, afraid, and searching Why Black men often feel pressure to appear unbreakable Why young Black males may struggle to see clear paths to future success How education’s traditional promise of college, career, and stability has changed Why educators should avoid blaming students when engagement declines How care without high expectations can limit student growth Why culturally relevant teaching must include identity, rigor, and belief in students Matthew’s “Fresh Prince Syndrome” and the narrow boxes placed around Black masculinity Why Black boys should not have to choose between cultural authenticity and academic success How schools can send hidden messages about who is expected to be brilliant Why knowing the language of equity is different from doing the work How saviorism can undermine genuine support for students Why educators must examine their own biases and assumptions How showing up authentically can help students do the same Throughout the conversation, Ashanti and Matthew explore how narrow ideas about masculinity, intelligence, and success can limit Black boys. They challenge educators to maintain high expectations, understand cultural expression, and create spaces where students can be both academically brilliant and authentically themselves. If you care about Black male identity, culturally relevant teaching, student belonging, racial equity, academic expectations, or helping Black boys show up as their whole selves, this episode is for you. Connect with Matthew R. Morris Book: Black Boys Like Me: Confrontations with Race, Identity, and Belonging Website: https://www.matthewrmorris.com Email: mrmorrisroom@gmail.com Twitter/X: https://x.com/callmemrmorris?s=21&t=mQltOmL0H7gModQJHT7wBQ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@matthewr.morris?si=3fCn_kVztaocBUIi Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #BlackBoysLikeMe #BlackMaleEducators #StudentBelonging #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching
	#87 \| Stop Shaming Boys: A Better Way to Talk About Masculinity w/ Chris Hemmings	16 Sep 2026	00:52:48
What happens when we stop shaming boys for the masks they wear—and start getting curious about why they learned to wear them in the first place? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with psychotherapist, former BBC journalist, men’s mental health advocate, and founder of Men’s Therapy Hub and M-Path Chris Hemmings to explore masculinity, empathy, grief, vulnerability, and what boys need from the adults trying to reach them. Chris shares how losing his father pushed him to confront his own relationship with masculinity and emotion—and how years of hiding his sensitive, empathic side shaped the man he became. Together, they reflect on the masks boys and men wear, the pressure to appear strong, and why real change requires compassion rather than shame. This conversation dives into: How losing his father changed Chris’s relationship with grief and masculinity Why Chris spent years hiding the sensitive and empathic parts of himself What happens when boys are repeatedly told to “stop being soft” The difference between masculinity and rigid ideas of masculinity Why boys need opportunities to reconnect with empathy How social media influencers are filling emotional gaps for young men Why harmful models of masculinity may be symptoms of a deeper problem Why shaming and blaming boys rarely leads to meaningful change How educators can “speak to what is happening in the room” without humiliating students What one student taught Chris about the power of challenging boys without shaming them Why vulnerability and confidence do not have to be opposites The importance of being able to say, “I hadn’t thought of it that way” Why adults working with boys must be willing to examine their own experiences first How educators may impact young people without ever knowing it Why boys need adults who can see beyond the behavior and recognize the person underneath the maskThroughout the conversation, Ashanti and Chris explore how boys can question rigid ideas of masculinity without shame. Chris reminds us that boys need curiosity, compassion, honesty, and emotional safety—not more judgment. If you care about boys’ mental health, masculinity, vulnerability, or creating healthier spaces for young men, this episode is for you. Connect with Chris Hemmings Websites: https://chrishemmings.co.uk https://menstherapyhub.com https://m-path.co.uk Podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/5QgINHeUZKorBCE4LBoBXF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menstherapyhub/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MensTherapyHub LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/menstherapyhub/ TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@menstherapyhub/video/7599690461707767042 Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MensMentalHealth #HealthyMasculinity #BoysMentalHealth #EmotionalSafety #MasculinityMatters #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators
	#86 \| You Are Not Alone: Trust, Mentorship, and The Power of Showing up w/ Ray Seol	09 Sep 2026	00:47:03
What happens when educators stop believing they need to have all the answers—and start recognizing trust, curiosity, and presence as some of the most powerful things they can offer students? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with jazz bassist, educator, artist, immigrant, and father Ray Seol to explore grief, identity, mentorship, anxiety, imposter syndrome, student trust, and the responsibility educators carry when young people are looking for someone to believe in them. Together, they reflect on the masks educators wear, the struggles they may carry privately, and why creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest can change lives. This conversation dives into: Ray’s unexpected path into music and education The pressure of feeling like you are never enough Losing his mother and learning to talk about grief Why vulnerability can be difficult across cultures How the pandemic helped Ray begin sharing his story Navigating identity as a Korean immigrant Why mentors helped Ray understand he was not alone Why trust is essential in the educator-student relationship The importance of telling students, “I trust you” Why educators should remain learners too How the pandemic changed music education Why human connection still matters in a digital world How curiosity can help educators see beyond student behavior What one struggling student taught Ray about judgment and potential Why sometimes showing up is the lesson Throughout the conversation, Ashanti and Ray explore how educators can become the people they once needed in their own lives. Ray reminds us that students do not always need someone to fix everything. Sometimes they need someone who will listen, stay curious, believe in them, and remind them that they are not alone. If you care about mentorship, emotional safety, educator vulnerability, student belonging, mental health, music education, immigrant identity, or building stronger relationships with young people, this episode is for you. Connect with Ray Seol LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayseol/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soulraymusicofficial Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #Education #Mentorship #EmotionalSafety #StudentBelonging #EducatorWellbeing
	#85 \| Hip-hop Lessons for Life and Learning w/ David Spellmon	02 Sep 2026	00:49:13
What happens when educators stop seeing hip-hop as something to keep outside the classroom—and begin recognizing it as a tool for building confidence, self-awareness, connection, and possibility? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with hip-hop educator, author, curriculum creator, and community leader David Spellmon to explore social-emotional learning, Black male identity, mentorship, student engagement, emotional vulnerability, and the power of using culture to help young people recognize the greatness already inside of them. Together, they reflect on the confidence educators and community leaders often display publicly, the inadequacy and vulnerability they may carry privately, and why reaching young people sometimes requires educators to speak through the music, language, and culture students already understand. This conversation dives into: David’s path as an unconventional educator Why positivity and connection guide his work The vulnerability behind being the “strong friend” Why Black men may feel pressure to adjust how they show up How A Tribe Called Quest shaped David’s approach to education Why culturally relevant learning matters How David created Just Like Music during the pandemic Why knowledge of self is central to hip-hop How lyrics can build social-emotional skills Why greatness requires both belief and action How a “Game 7” mindset can reframe setbacks Why educators should challenge students with care How music builds identity, memory, and connection Why students can lose their joy for learning Why educators must honor students’ culture and experiences es students bring with them instead of asking them to become less of themselves Throughout the conversation, Ashanti and David explore how educators, mentors, music, and relationships can help young people recognize the greatness within themselves. David reminds us that hip-hop can be a powerful tool for creativity, connection, self-awareness, and growth. Even one lyric can help a young person reframe failure, reconnect with a goal, and turn belief into action. If you care about hip-hop education, social-emotional learning, culturally responsive teaching, mentorship, student engagement, or bringing more joy and relevance into learning, this episode is for you. Connect with David Spellmon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-spellmon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjappi/ Website: https://positivearchersolutions.com/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #HipHopEducation #SocialEmotionalLearning #BlackMaleEducators #StudentBelonging #KnowledgeOfSelf
	#84 \| Your Words Can Build—or Burn w/ Maurice McDavid	25 Aug 2026	00:45:29
What happens when educators recognize that their words can create warmth, build confidence, and strengthen belonging—or leave wounds students carry for years? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with educator, principal, pastor, author, and podcast host Maurice McDavid to explore student belonging, Black male identity, culturally responsive teaching, school leadership, representation, and the power of language. Together, they reflect on the strength educators display publicly, the fear and overwhelm they may carry privately, and why supporting young people requires both accountability and compassion. This conversation dives into: Maurice’s journey from aspiring politician to educator and school leader Why social justice and equity have shaped his career in education What it means to lead with optimism while carrying fear and uncertainty Why Black students benefit from seeing educators and leaders who look like them How accountability can come from care rather than punishment Why Black boys are often expected to grow up faster than their peers How schools can bring joy, creativity, and curiosity back into learning Why students need to see themselves as belonging in academic spaces How personal goals can help students connect their behavior to their future Why home language should be respected rather than treated as a sign of low intelligence How educators’ words can create belonging, bring warmth, or leave lasting burn marks Throughout the conversation, Ashanti and Maurice explore what it means to protect, challenge, and empower young people without stripping away their identity or childhood. They remind educators that language is never neutral—what adults say can shape how students see their intelligence, their culture, and their place in the classroom. If you care about culturally responsive teaching, Black male educators, student belonging, school leadership, restorative practices, language, representation, or creating more joyful and affirming learning environments, this episode is for you. Connect with Maurice McDavid Book: Your Words Are Fire: 10 Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies to Speak the Language of Belonging and Help Students Learn, Express Ideas, and Solve Problems Podcast: https://www.blackbrownbilingue.com/podcast Email: revmcdavid@gmail.com Website: http://www.blackbrownbilingue.com Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@blackbrownbilingue6382 Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators#WordsCarryPower #BuildingBelonging #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching #StudentBelonging
	#83 \| Behind the High Performer: What We Hide Behind the Mask w/ Ron Rapatalo	18 Aug 2026	00:41:49
What happens when someone appears confident, connected, and successful on the outside while privately navigating anxiety, avoidance, pressure, and self-doubt? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with educator, coach, connector, podcast host, and social impact leader Ron Rapatalo to explore identity, vulnerability, high performance, community, leadership, and the emotional weight people often carry behind their public image. Together, they reflect on the version of ourselves we share publicly, the struggles we protect privately, and why true self-awareness requires looking beyond achievement, visibility, and professional success. This conversation dives into: Ron’s journey as the child of Filipino immigrants and a product of New York City public schools Why education became an equalizer in his life How Filipino cultural values shaped his commitment to community and connection The difference between a public brand and the person behind it Why vulnerability is often shared only after it has been processed How high performers can hide anxiety, avoidance, and private struggles The emotional and physical cost of constantly needing to succeed Why educators should not have to sacrifice their health to serve others How ADHD, anxiety, deadlines, and performance can become deeply connected Why excellence does not have to look like suffering Throughout the conversation, Ashanti and Ron explore what it means to be visible without being fully known. They remind listeners that achievement does not erase struggle, vulnerability is not weakness, and the people who appear strongest may still be carrying experiences others cannot see. If you care about educator wellness, leadership, identity, high performance, emotional health, vulnerability, community, social impact, or creating more human-centered professional spaces, this episode is for you. Connect with Ron Rapatalo Email: rapatalo@gmail.com Podcast: https://ronderings.podcastsmatter.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo/?skipRedirect=true Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators#BehindHighPerformance #WhatSuccessHides #HighPerformers #EducatorWellness #LeadershipAndVulnerability
	#82 \| Behind the Confidence: Let Kids Learn To Live w/ Dr. Ray Boyd	11 Aug 2026	00:45:01
What does it mean to lead with confidence while carrying vulnerability, caution, and responsibility behind the mask? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with Western Australian educator and school leader Dr. Ray Boyd to explore leadership, childhood, boundaries, technology, masculinity, and the lasting impact teachers have on young people. Together, they reflect on the pressure educators carry, the importance of consistency, and why students need both freedom and clear expectations in order to grow. This conversation dives into: The confidence school leaders often show publicly The vulnerability and sensitivity many men keep hidden Why dependable leadership builds trust How teachers constantly anticipate what could go wrong The pressure educators carry beyond the school day Why children need opportunities to take healthy risks How overprotection can increase anxiety and limit independence The impact of phones and social media on childhood Why clear boundaries must be followed by consistent action Throughout the conversation, Ashanti and Ray explore how strong leadership combines confidence with care, boundaries with support, and high expectations with humanity. They remind educators that students may not always express their appreciation, but the consistency and care they receive can shape their lives for years to come. If you care about school leadership, emotional safety, healthy masculinity, student independence, educator wellness, or creating consistent and supportive classrooms, this episode is for you. Connect with Dr. Ray Boyd Email: ray.boyd@education.wa.edu.au LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayboyd007/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators#EmotionalSafety #HealthyMasculinity #StudentSupport #CaringClassrooms #PositiveDiscipline #ConsistencyMatters #YouthDevelopment
	#81 \| Leading With Compassion w/ Joshua Stamper	04 Aug 2026	00:55:08
What happens when an educator chooses to look beyond behavior and uncover the story, need, or struggle beneath it? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with educator, author, speaker, and podcast host Joshua Stamper to explore relationships, leadership, student behavior, educator wellness, and the power of discovering purpose. Together, they reflect on the confidence educators show publicly, the self-doubt they may carry privately, and why meaningful change begins when students and staff feel seen, valued, and understood. This conversation dives into: Joshua’s journey from graphic designer to teacher and school leader How mentors can recognize leadership potential before we see it ourselves Why purpose can transform motivation and performance The importance of building relationships before expecting academic growth Why knowledge of the brain must first pass through the heart How educators can misinterpret students when pieces of their stories are missing Why behavior should be viewed as a form of communication The role respect and trust play in student engagement The confidence leaders display while privately carrying self-doubt If you care about educator wellness, student behavior, school leadership, emotional intelligence, relationship-centered education, or creating healthier school communities, this episode is for you. Connect with Joshua Stamper Email: Joshua@joshstamper.com Website:https://joshstamper.com LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-stamper/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@joshuastamper Explore Joshua’s books and podcasts, including Aspire to Lead, The Language of Behavior, and the VibeEDU Podcast. Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators#AspireToLead #TheLanguageOfBehavior #VibeEDU #EducationalLeadership #SchoolLeadership #EducatorWellness #TeacherBurnout #StudentBehavior #RelationshipCenteredEducation #EmotionalIntelligence
	#80 \| Beyond The Mask: What Education Owes The World w/ Professor Richard Weissbourd	29 Jul 2026	00:36:54
What does it truly mean to raise caring, moral, and engaged young people? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with Harvard educator and Making Caring Common founder Professor Richard Weissbourd to discuss empathy, morality, purpose, civic responsibility, and the pressures shaping educators and students today. They explore why schools must look beyond academic achievement, how listening builds empathy, why young people need help finding truth in a divided media landscape, and why we cannot afford to become indifferent. This conversation is for educators, parents, and anyone committed to helping young people become thoughtful, compassionate, and engaged human beings. Connect with Professor Richard Weissbourd Email: richard_weissbourd@gse.harvard.edu LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/making-caring-common-at-hgse Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators#SocialEmotionalLearning #EmotionalSafety #MoralDevelopment #CivicEngagement #StudentWellbeing #PurposeAndMeaning
	#79 \| Behind the Mask: The Masks We Wear, the History We Carry w/ Dr. Frederick Gooding Jr.	22 Jul 2026	00:50:20
What happens when a historian, educator, and cultural critic invites us to think more deeply about the masks we wear, the stories we inherit, and the truths we often avoid? In this powerful episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with historian, professor, author, and public scholar Dr. Frederick Gooding Jr. Known for his work exploring African American history, race, culture, and representation, Dr. Gooding brings both intellectual depth and personal reflection to a conversation about identity, education, and emotional truth. Ashanti and Dr. Gooding unpack the realities many Black men navigate every day, the tension between who they are and who the world expects them to be, the exhaustion of code-switching, and the emotional weight carried beneath carefully constructed masks. This conversation dives into: The concept of front-stage and backstage behavior W.E.B. Du Bois' idea of double consciousness Why many young men hide vulnerability behind humor and performance The emotional safety students need before authentic connection can happen Hip-hop as an overlooked educational and cultural teaching tool How schools often overlook the strengths students bring from home The relationship between empathy, history, and education The hidden pain that can exist behind passion and advocacy Why teaching honest history is essential to understanding the present The challenges and opportunities of being a Black male educator today Throughout the conversation, Ashanti and Dr. Gooding explore what it means to lead with authenticity while navigating systems that often demand performance. Together, they challenge listeners to think differently about masculinity, education, empathy, and the power of human connection. If you care about education, history, emotional wellness, racial equity, authentic leadership, or helping young people feel seen and understood, this episode is for you. Connect with Dr. Frederick Gooding Jr. LinkedIn: Dr. Frederick Gooding Jr. Email: f.gooding@tcu.edu Upcoming Books: A book exploring Black statues and monuments in Washington, D.C., and what they reveal about visibility, memory, and representation in America. A Disturbance in the Force: Making Space for Race in the Star Wars Space, examining race, identity, and representation throughout the Star Wars universe. Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #AuthenticMasculinity #BlackMaleEducators #EmotionalSafety #TeachingHonestHistory #EducationalEquity
	#78: More Than One Way to Be a Man: Redefining Masculinity w/ Gabriel Mizunaka	15 Jul 2026	00:42:40
What happens when young people are only shown one version of what it means to be a man? Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, spoken word artist, and author Gabriel Mizunaka to explore the experiences, mentors, and moments that shaped his journey as a teacher and creative voice. Together, they discuss the masks men wear, the pressures young people face in defining masculinity, and the role poetry can play in helping students express emotions that often go unspoken. Gabriel shares how a simple classroom opportunity changed the course of his life and why educators should never underestimate the impact they have on students. This episode is a reminder that authenticity is not weakness. When young people are given permission to express who they truly are, they begin to discover the strength that has been there all along. How one classroom moment introduced Gabriel to spoken word poetry Why educators often underestimate their influence on students The power of creating spaces where young people can express their emotions How poetry can unlock conversations students struggle to have out loud Why many boys are taught a limited view of masculinity The difference between appearing strong and being emotionally healthy How silence, avoidance, and bottled-up emotions affect young men Why students are constantly learning from what educators model, not just what they teach The importance of male role models who demonstrate empathy and vulnerability How social media influences the way young people define manhood Why teachers cannot carry the responsibility for every student's outcome The value of recognizing indirect moments of impact in education How authentic relationships help young people embrace who they are Why there is more than one way to be a man The connection between creativity, identity, and emotional well-being Connect with Gabriel Mizunaka Instagram: @mizuonthemic TikTok: @mizuonthemic Book: To the Student That . . .: A collection of poems for students (and teachers) for the classroom Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducatoreEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #HealthyMasculinity #EducationPodcast #TeacherLife #StudentVoice #EmotionalIntelligence
	#77: Student Rights Aren't Optional: Why Student Rights Can't Be Left to Chance w/ Preston Cary Green III	08 Jul 2026	00:48:30
What happens when the protections students depend on begin to disappear in plain sight? In this conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with education law scholar Preston Cary Green III to explore how his journey shaped his commitment to protecting opportunity, dignity, and rights for all young people. Together, they discuss the masks educators wear, the ongoing fight for student protections, and why communities must stay engaged in defending educational justice. This episode is a reminder that opportunity is never guaranteed. It must be understood, protected, and fought for. How early educational interventions can change the course of a child's life Why labels and misplaced assumptions can limit student potential The role educational law plays in creating opportunity and access How school desegregation shaped generations of students and families The difference between educational choice and educational protection Why legal rights matter in every learning environment How giftedness, talent, and potential are often overlooked The importance of making complex educational issues accessible to families Why advocacy cannot stop at the federal level How local communities can protect and advance student rights The connection between dignity, equity, and educational access Why educators must understand the systems that shape student experiences The power of mentors who help young people see new possibilities What it means to continue the unfinished work of educational justice Connect with Preston Cary Green III Website: www.drprestongreen.com BlueSky: @prestongreen X: @PrestonGreen LinkedIn: Preston Cary Green III Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducatoreEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators # EducationLeadership #StudentAdvocacy #EducationalEquity #SchoolLeadership #EducationPolicy #UnmaskingWithEducators
	#76: The Power of Questioning: Why Critical Thinking Must Belong to Everyone w/ Colin Seale	30 Jun 2026	00:46:25
What if the behaviors schools label as problems are actually signs of untapped brilliance? In this conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, author, and Think Law founder Colin Seale to explore how his journey from struggling student to gifted learner, math teacher, and law school graduate shaped his mission to make critical thinking accessible to every child. Together, they discuss the masks educators wear, the invisible talents students carry, and what it takes to create classrooms where rigor, engagement, and humanity can thrive together. This episode is a reminder that students do not need less challenge. They need learning that helps them see what they are capable of becoming. How early labels can shape a student's identity and future Why critical thinking is often treated as a luxury instead of a necessity The difference between classroom management and classroom control How giftedness and behavior are often misunderstood in schools Why invisible talent exists in every classroom The power of creating psychological safety around mistakes What educators miss when they focus only on compliance How engagement can become a pathway to rigor Why many students are underestimated before they ever get a chance to shine The role of curiosity, advocacy, and questioning in student success How real-world problems can make academic content more meaningful Why educators must challenge systems that limit opportunity for young people What it means to rehumanize instruction instead of simply managing behavior How educators can move from believing some students can to creating conditions where all students can Connect with Colin Seale Website: https://www.thinklaw.us Instagram: @colinseale Instagram: @thinklawus Book: Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking to All Students Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducatoreEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #EducationPodcast #EducationalLeadership #StudentSuccess #TeachingAndLearning #ThinkLaw
	#75: What Does It Mean to Be Black in America’s Schools? w/ Brian Rashad Fuller	23 Jun 2026	00:51:11
What happens when your earliest memories teach you lessons about race, identity, and belonging before you even understand what those words mean? In this conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, author, and education leader Brian Rashad Fuller to explore his journey into education and the story behind Being Black in America’s Schools. Together, they discuss the masks educators wear, the power of joy and representation, and what it takes to create schools where Black and Brown students can thrive without sacrificing their humanity. This episode is a reminder that education is about more than test scores. It’s about helping young people see who they are and what’s possible. This episode is a reminder that education is about more than test scores. It's about helping young people understand who they are, what they are capable of becoming, and ensuring they have the support to pursue their dreams. How childhood experiences shape the educators we become Why joy matters for Black boys and Black men The power of representation in the classroom What Brian learned from working with students impacted by incarceration Why many students don't know what they don't know about college and opportunity The connection between education and social justice How educators can challenge systems that were not designed for all students to succeed The hidden costs of achievement-focused school cultures Why reflection is essential for growth as an educator What it means to disrupt inequity from inside the system How Brian's personal story became the foundation for his book Connect with Brian Rashad Fuller Website: https://www.brianrashadfuller.com Follow Brian for insights on educational equity, leadership, social justice, and creating schools where all students can thrive. Book: Being Black in America’s Schools: Student and Educator Reformers Call for Change Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #EducationLeadership #EducationalEquity #StudentSuccess #SchoolLeadership #SocialJusticeEducation
	#74: Hope Dealers and Possibility: Reimagining What Young People Can Become w/ Hasan Davis	16 Jun 2026	01:02:35
What happens when one person sees your potential before you can see it yourself? Ashanti Branch sits down with Hasan Davis, educator, youth advocate, storyteller, and self-described "Hope Dealer," to explore the experiences that shaped his life and his commitment to young people. From childhood trauma and educational barriers to juvenile justice reform and national leadership, Hasan shares how a series of caring adults helped him discover possibilities beyond the circumstances he was born into. They discuss the power of belonging, the responsibility educators carry, and why behavior is often a reflection of survival rather than defiance. Hasan reflects on the teachers, mentors, and family members who refused to let his story end where others expected it to. Why behavior is often communication rather than a disciplinary problem The importance of creating conditions where students feel they belong How educators can hold students accountable without giving up on them Why young people need adults who can see both their struggles and their potential Why relationships matter more than authority when building trust with young people The impact of educators who create opportunities instead of barriers How students often carry responsibilities and burdens that adults never see Why schools must address more than academics to support learning How educators can avoid taking student behavior personally Why creating classroom agreements can help students develop ownership and accountability The importance of helping young people imagine futures beyond their current circumstances Connect with Hasan Davis Website: www.hasandavis.com Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasandavis/⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HasanDavisSolutions⁠ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #EducationLeadership #StudentBelonging #TraumaInformedEducation #PowerOfHope #YouthDevelopment #SeeThePossibility
	#73: From Survival to Purpose: The Courage to Uncover Your Light w/ Steve Sapourn	09 Jun 2026	00:57:59
Content notes: This episode contains discussions of trauma, addiction, mental health, and psychedelic-assisted healing. Steve shares his personal experiences and perspectives. This conversation is not intended as medical, psychological, or professional treatment advice. Listeners seeking support should consult qualified healthcare or mental health professionals. What happens when the masks that helped you survive start keeping you from truly living? Ashanti Branch sits down with Steve Sapourn, host of The Neuro’s Journey, to explore childhood trauma, addiction, healing, and nervous system regulation. Steve shares how his journey from survival to success led him toward deeper self-understanding, purpose, and transformation. Together, they discuss how trauma shows up in classrooms, why behavior is often communication, and how one caring educator can change a life. This episode is a reminder that healing happens through choices, connection, and the courage to uncover your light. How childhood trauma shapes the nervous system and influences behavior Why some students act out while others hide their pain behind achievement The connection between addiction, survival, and emotional regulation What educators can learn from students who struggle to sit still or stay engaged The life-changing impact of one teacher who truly sees a student Why success, money, and achievement don't always heal emotional wounds The difference between surviving and truly living How shame can keep people disconnected from themselves and others The role of community, reflection, and vulnerability in healing Why apologizing can strengthen relationships instead of weakening them The importance of regulating your own nervous system before helping others How uncovering your inner light can create positive change for everyone around you Connect with Steve Sapourn Website: stevesapourn.com Podcast: The Neuro’s Journey Follow Steve for conversations about trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, personal transformation, and the healing journey that helps people move from survival to purpose. Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub #FromSurvivalToPurpose #UncoverYourLight #HealingJourney #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemHealing
	#72: What Happens When the Hope-Giver Needs Hope? w/ Chase Mielke	02 Jun 2026	00:47:25
What happens when the people everyone relies on for hope, encouragement, and positivity are struggling to carry everyone else's burdens? In this powerful conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, author, and speaker Chase Mielke to explore the masks educators wear, the emotional labor of teaching, and the importance of creating spaces where both students and adults can be fully human. They discuss burnout, student engagement, social media's impact on learning, the importance of positive emotions in education, and why relationships matter more than ever in today's classrooms. This episode is a reminder that educators don't have to carry everything alone, and that small moments of connection often have a greater impact than we realize. Why educators often feel pressure to be the strong one The hidden emotional costs of caring deeply for students How social media and instant gratification are changing learning What students today are struggling with most The relationship between joy, resilience, and academic success Why positive emotions are essential for learning The challenges of balancing teaching, parenting, and personal well-being How one assistant principal changed Chase's life forever Why your impact as an educator can't always be measured by data The power of small moments over big breakthroughs Connect with Chase Mielke Website: chasemielke.com Follow Chase on social media for insights on educator well-being, positive psychology, and effective teaching practices. Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #ChaseMielke #TeacherBurnout #EducatorWellness #TeacherResilience #PositivePsychology #SchoolCulture
	#71 \| Helping Kids Feel Safe Enough to Connect w/ Fernando Deveras	26 May 2026	00:54:33
What happens when a certified educator, trauma-informed healing-centered facilitator, and community organizer starts asking deeper questions about masculinity, emotional safety, and the world our boys are growing up in? In this powerful episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Asahnti sits down with Mexican-American educator, former middle school teacher, community organizer, and Trauma-Informed Healing-Centered Facilitator, Fernando Deveras. is known for his thought-provoking commentary on history, politics, education, and current events through his growing online platforms and community work. Ashanti and Fernando unpack the emotional realities many young men carry behind the mask, the pressure to perform masculinity, the fear of vulnerability, and the impact of growing up in a world shaped by social media, violence, isolation, and emotional disconnection. This conversation dives into: What boys are really searching for beneath the surface Why emotional safety matters in schools and communities The hidden exhaustion educators carry behind the scenes Trauma, healing, and intergenerational patterns in Latino families The role educators play in helping young people feel seen Why “the kids don’t have time for adults to wait to be ready” Masculinity, community accountability, and the bystander effect The importance of speaking up, even when your platform feels small Fernando also shares his personal story growing up as the son of immigrants, becoming a father while in college, transitioning from classroom teaching into community organizing, and helping families heal through culturally grounded practices. If you care about young men, education, emotional wellness, restorative practices, or building safer communities this episode is for you. Connect with Fernando Instagram: @fernando.deveras YouTube: Fernando De Veras Substack: Fernando De Veras Learn more about and their family healing workshops Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #MaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub #EducationLeadership #HealthyMasculinity #YouthDevelopment #EmotionalSafety #CommunityHealing
	#70 \| If You Didn’t Start Yesterday, Start Today — w/ Nigel Williams	19 May 2026	00:59:01
In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti Branch sits down with Nigel Williams, a longtime friend from Oakland, retired probation professional, high school basketball coach, father, entrepreneur, and founder of Future Rich. Nigel reflects on the masks he wears as a man who leads with heart, hope, and resilience, while carrying the hidden pressure of looking good, seeming like he has wealth figured out, and navigating the unspoken shame many men carry around money, health, and struggle. He shares his journey from Calvin Simmons Middle School and Fremont High School to 25 years in probation, where he worked with young people, challenged systems that were not serving youth well, and learned the importance of giving people resources before they reach crisis. Nigel also opens up about his health journey, including surviving a staph infection and facing prostate cancer with a commitment to early detection, honesty, and helping other men take their health seriously. In this episode, we talk about: The mask of looking like everything is figured out Why men often hide money struggles instead of talking about them Growing up in Oakland and learning from mentors, family, and community Nigel’s 25-year career in probation and juvenile justice The difference between punishment, accountability, and real support Why young people need financial literacy earlier The story behind Future Rich Compound interest, the Rule of 72, and long-term discipline ETF dividend funds and building generational wealth Why “future rich” is about freedom, not just money Men’s health, early detection, and prostate cancer awareness Starting today, even if you did not start yesterday 0:00 Welcome and introduction 1:18 Nigel’s Oakland roots and Future Rich 5:57 From engineering to education 9:50 Nigel shares his mask 16:43 Ashanti shares his mask 21:22 Lessons from 25 years in probation 29:32 The beginning of Future Rich 36:14 Money, masculinity, and young men 39:14 ETF dividend funds explained 42:31 Compound interest and the Rule of 72 47:52 Men’s health and early detection 51:03 PSA numbers, MRIs, and prostate cancer 54:42 Start today 57:46 Closing and Million Mask Movement invitation Connect with Nigel Williams Website: futurerichnow.com Also mentioned: buildfuturerichnow.com TikTok / Instagram / Facebook: Nigel Williams Project: Future Rich Book / Resource: Future Rich book, workbook, and teacher’s guide Mentioned in this episode Future Rich Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #NigelWilliams #FutureRich #FinancialLiteracy #GenerationalWealth #MaleEducators #MensHealth #ProstateCancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #YouthMentorship #OaklandEducators #MillionMaskMovement #EverForwardClub
	#69 \| Are You In or Are You Out? — w/ Jay Wamsted	12 May 2026	00:50:21
In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti Branch sits down with Jay Wamsted, a 20-year educator, father, writer, and author of The Lockdown Artist. Jay reflects on the masks he wears as a teacher, being in control, joyful, hopeful, and steady, while carrying the hidden weight of uncertainty, frustration, and concern about the future of public education. He shares his journey as a white educator in predominantly Black classrooms, how writing helped him process race and identity in schools, and why emotional safety matters deeply in math class. Jay also talks about replacing traditional warm-up problems with connection-building “cold opens,” using mistakes as teaching tools, and helping students feel like the classroom does not have to be a bad place. In this episode, we talk about: The hidden mask of classroom control Why students can “opt out” long before they leave the room Teaching through COVID and learning what educators can and cannot fix Race, identity, and the myth of the neutral classroom Jay’s journey from math teacher to writer The story behind The Lockdown Artist Why educators should write down classroom stories Building emotional safety in math class Using jokes, trivia, and authenticity to connect with students Why making mistakes publicly can help students feel safer 0:00 Welcome and introduction 1:31 Jay opens with a classroom breathing practice 3:31 Ashanti shares the front and back of his mask 6:33 Jay reflects on control, hope, and what he carries behind the mask 9:25 The public misunderstanding of teachers and summers off 11:18 How Jay navigates the pressure of caring for students 14:28 COVID, burnout, and learning what teachers cannot fix 15:53 Jay’s journey into writing 16:11 Teaching as a white educator in predominantly Black classrooms 18:06 Summer 2020 and writing about race in education 19:35 The story behind The Lockdown Artist 22:04 “Are you in or are you out?” 23:37 Who The Lockdown Artist is written for 25:28 Race, identity, and what adults call “neutral” 30:56 Journaling, reflection, and writing classroom stories 35:07 Emotional safety in math class 36:43 Moving away from traditional warm-up problems 38:35 Using “cold opens” to build connection 43:19 Advice for educators who want to build more trust 44:43 Being real with students in appropriate ways Connect with Jay Wamsted Website: jaywamsted.com Instagram / TikTok / X: @jaywamsted Jay WamstedBook: The Lockdown Artist Mentioned in this episode The Lockdown Artist The First Days of School by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #PrincipalKafele #MillionMaskMovement #MaleEducators #SchoolLeadership #CulturallyRelevantPedagogy #EverForwardClub
	#68 \| Does Your Teaching Match Who’s in the Room? — w/ Principal Baruti Kafele	05 May 2026	00:45:17
In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti Branch sits down with Principal Baruti Kafele, a 40-year educator, author, speaker, and school leader. Principal Kafele reflects on the mask he wore as a principal... “I’m good”, while carrying the hidden pressures of leadership, staff conflict, community expectations, and student needs. He shares how reading Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Dr. Carter G. Woodson changed his life and led him into education. He also challenges educators to make learning culturally relevant, build real relationships with students, and ask whether their teaching truly matches who is in the room. In this episode, we talk about: The hidden mask of school leadership Why educators must understand students’ culture and lived experiences How to make learning relevant and meaningful The power of relationship before instruction Principal Kafele’s Young Men’s Empowerment Program Why administrators must coach teachers, not just evaluate them 0:00 Welcome and introduction 3:36 The mask of “I’m good” 8:56 Navigating school politics and union relationships 14:30 How education found Principal Kafele 17:42 Discovering Dr. Carter G. Woodson 20:32 Putting students in the lesson 23:04 Becoming someone students can hear 24:20 Young Men’s Empowerment Program 30:00 Does your teaching match who’s in the room? 35:50 Principals as instructional coaches 41:07 How to connect with Principal Kafele Connect with Principal Baruti Kafele Website: principalcafele.com Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn / X: @principalkafele YouTube: AP & New Principals Academy Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #PrincipalKafele #MillionMaskMovement #MaleEducators #SchoolLeadership #CulturallyRelevantPedagogy #EverForwardClub
	#E67 \| Clyde Cole on Emotional Safety, Authentic Leadership, and Helping Students Take the Risk to Trust	28 Apr 2026	00:47:08
Ashanti sits down with Clyde Cole, Principal of Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School, to explore identity, leadership, education, and the masks school leaders wear. Clyde reflects on his journey as the child of immigrants, his 35 years in education, and the classroom moment that shaped his calling. He also shares how calm leadership, transparency, and emotionally safe adults can help young men build trust and move beyond the mask. A powerful conversation for educators, school leaders, mentors, and anyone committed to helping young people feel seen. In this episode: The masks Ashanti and Clyde wear as educators and leaders Why calm leadership can sometimes be misunderstood as not caring How transparency helps students, families, and staff trust the decision-making process Why young men need vocabulary to express what they are carrying The fifth-grade teacher who changed Clyde’s life by choosing elevation over punishment Why educators should look for opportunities to lift students up, even in disruptive moments How Cristo Rey Brooklyn supports students through academics, work-study, service, and community partnership Timestamps: 00:01 Welcome and introduction 00:44 Clyde’s background, identity, and Brooklyn roots 02:26 Leading Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School 04:48 Ashanti shares his educator mask 08:32 Clyde shares his mask as a leader 13:42 Calm leadership in difficult moments 15:54 Using transparency to build trust 19:14 The deeper work of education 21:19 Helping young men move beyond the mask 23:01 Giving young men language for their emotions 26:17 Creating spaces for emotional risk-taking 27:48 Why students need safe adults 30:59 The teacher who changed Clyde’s path 32:28 Elevating students instead of punishing them 36:19 Clyde’s five domains of school leadership 37:44 Academic leadership 39:01 Cultural leadership 40:01 Organizational leadership 41:22 Team leadership 42:28 Interpersonal leadership 45:35 Cristo Rey Brooklyn’s work-study model 46:24 How to support Cristo Rey Brooklyn students 48:21 Closing reflections and mask invitation Resources & Links Mentioned: Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School: https://www.cristoreybrooklyn.org/ Faculty & Staff / Clyde Cole: https://www.cristoreybrooklyn.org/faculty-and-staff Connect with Clyde Cole Website: https://www.cristoreybrooklyn.org/ Email: ccole@cristoreybrooklyn.org Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas, Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #EmotionalSafety #MaleEducators #AuthenticLeadership #SchoolLeadership #CristoReyBrooklyn #YoungMenMatter #BehindTheMask #EducatorWellbeing
	#E66 \| Bishop Foreman on Transformational Teaching, Leadership, and Teaching for Real Impact	21 Apr 2026	00:40:01
Ashanti sits down with Bishop Foreman for an honest and powerful conversation about leadership, education, and the masks we wear. This episode explores what it means to lead while carrying pain, why consistency can become overcommitment, and how childhood experiences often shape the way adults show up as educators, mentors, and leaders. Bishop Foreman also shares why the best teachers do more than deliver information. They help students think, connect, and transform. If you are an educator, school leader, mentor, coach, or anyone who works with young people, this conversation offers both reflection and practical insight. In this episode: The masks Ashanti and Bishop Foreman wear in public and what they carry underneath The connection between childhood instability and adult leadership patterns Why authenticity matters in teaching and leadership How to move from information delivery to transformational teaching Why educators should focus on the takeaway, not just the lesson How engagement, humor, and interaction help students learn Why students need adults who can connect before they can truly teach Timestamps: 00:06 Welcome and opening reflections 00:14 Meet Bishop Foreman 00:30 Bishop Foreman on leadership, impact, and honoring educators 01:21 His early love of teaching and starting a business at age 12 03:47 Ashanti on entrepreneurship, schools, and setting up the mask activity 05:32 Ashanti shares his mask 08:32 Bishop Foreman shares his mask 13:39 Consistency, leadership, and knowing when to let something go 15:34 Childhood responsibility, protecting others, and emotional attachment in leadership 19:44 Ashanti connects with the role of protector in his own story 20:40 Working with adults, youth, and communicating across audiences 22:56 Speaking with energy and connecting beyond information 24:37 Youth attention spans and the challenge to make learning worth their time 26:46 Moving from reacting to students toward building growth-centered structures 28:45 Starting with the end in mind and teaching for transformation 30:02 Why many educated people are not taught to think critically 31:14 Social media, swipe culture, and shrinking attention spans 32:38 Teaching critical thinking instead of just content 33:14 The educators Bishop Foreman still remembers and why they mattered 36:36 How to connect with Bishop Foreman 39:32 Closing invitation to share your mask anonymously Resources & Links Mentioned bishopforeman.com Text “BISHOP” to 55498 for discounts on books, coaching, and resources Connect with Bishop Foreman Website: bishopforeman.com Social media: @BishopForeman Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas, Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #EmotionalSafety #MaleEducators #AuthenticLeadership #EducatorWellbeing #BehindTheMask
	#65 \| Alexander Kopelman on Authenticity, Creativity, and Helping Children Stay Real	17 Apr 2026	00:48:45
In this conversation, Ashanti sits down with Alexander Kopelman, founding president and CEO of the Children’s Arts Guild, to explore authenticity, identity, creativity, and what it means to help children thrive as whole human beings. Together, they reflect on the masks adults wear, the stories we carry from childhood, and how our own fears, wounds, and expectations can shape the way we show up for young people. Alexander shares his journey as a refugee from the Soviet Union, the origins of the Children’s Arts Guild, and the heart behind his book, For Real: Helping Children Remain Their Authentic Selves in a Limiting World. How identity gets shaped by what others assume about us Why creativity can open doors to honesty, vulnerability, and emotional safety How the Children’s Arts Guild began through work with boys and creative expression A powerful moment from a kickball game that opened a conversation about crying and grief Why adults in a child’s ecosystem matter just as much as the child-focused program itself Why children need to be allowed to fully be the age they are How post-pandemic expectations may still be out of step with where children really are 00:02 Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators 00:35 Meet Alexander Kopelman 01:41 Alexander introduces the Children’s Arts Guild and For Real 02:09 Coming to the U.S. as a refugee and rebuilding identity 03:13 Assumptions, religion, and being seen from the outside 05:25 Choice, identity, and the masks we wear 14:39 Creative mortification and the fear of drawing 17:34 How Alexander’s work with boys and adults began 21:25 Kickball, crying, and the moment things shifted 23:15 Why working with adults became essential 25:09 Authenticity as a framework for educators and parents 27:12 What games can reveal about fairness, emotion, and behavior 29:17 Why adults need inner work and practice too 31:45 Men’s work, circles, and learning to trust the process 35:31 Realizing there were no men in his life 37:04 New Warrior training and recognizing inner voices 40:20 Parenting, anxiety, and reacting from fear 41:35 What For Real offers adults 43:34 Letting children be the age they are 44:19 Post-pandemic development and shifting expectations 46:41 A final reminder for parents and educators 47:28 How to connect with Alexander 48:34 Closing invitation Resources & Links Mentioned Children’s Arts Guild For Real: Helping Children Remain Their Authentic Selves in a Limiting World Authenticity Works — Alexander’s website millionmask.org — share your mask anonymously Mankind Project Girls Inc. Connect with Alexander Kopelman Website: authenticityworks.org Book website: forrealbook.org Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas, Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #AlexanderKopelman #Authenticity #CreativeExpression #EmotionalSafety #WholeChild #MaleEducators #Parenting #ChildDevelopment #Healing
	#64 \| Jason Biehl on White Discomfort, Belonging, and the Work of Healing	01 Apr 2026	00:47:00
In this thoughtful and timely conversation, Ashanti sits down with educator, facilitator, and author Jason Biehl to explore masculinity, whiteness, emotional honesty, and what it means to nurture healthy belonging for boys and men. Together, they reflect on the fears, grief, and uncertainty many young people are carrying right now, and why adults must be willing to face discomfort, tell the truth, and model courage in order to create more emotionally safe communities. Jason also shares about his upcoming four-part graphic memoir series, Unicorns: A Memoir for Young White Men, beginning with On White Discomfort, and explains why this work matters so deeply in this moment. In This Episode, We Talk About: What Ashanti and Jason are carrying on the front and back of their masks Why hope, honesty, and vulnerability are essential in hard times The fears young people are holding about safety, identity, and the future How masculinity, whiteness, and patriarchy shape belonging and disconnection Why discomfort can be a necessary part of learning, growth, and healing The importance of creating spaces where boys and young men can tell the truth Jason’s new graphic memoir series, Unicorns, for young white men Why adults and educators must stop waiting for crisis before doing proactive work Timestamps: 00:00 Discomfort, healing, and growth 00:34 Episode preview 01:25 Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators 02:02 Meet Jason Beale 04:26 Working with white men, boys, and belonging 06:52 Ashanti shares his mask 09:41 Jason shares his mask 12:24 “Hope is a discipline” 14:35 Fear, silence, and speaking up 16:28 Why more men need skin in the game 17:03 Bullying, fear, and self-silencing 19:08 Social media vs real courage 21:09 What young people are carrying right now 23:33 What gives Jason hope 26:00 The need for healthier role models 28:25 Why white discomfort matters 30:49 Othering, privilege, and race 33:15 Tulsa, erased history, and truth 38:09 Algorithms and echo chambers 40:30 Why schools wait for crisis 42:54 Boys, patriarchy, and accountability 45:16 Jason’s Unicorns book series 46:19 Closing invitation Resources & Links Mentioned Change the Narrative — Jason’s website Unicorns: A Memoir for Young White Men Nurturing Healthy Belonging series for young men and boys millionmask.org — share your mask anonymously Talk to Your Boys by Christopher Pepper and Joanna Schroeder Connect with Jason Biehl Website: changethenarrative.me Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas, Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #JasonBeale #MaleEducators #HealthyMasculinity #Belonging #EmotionalSafety #AntiRacism #SocialJusticeEducation #YoungMen #VulnerabilityIsStrength
	#63 \| Real Men Teach, Retaining Male Educators, & Strong Friends Still Need Help w/ Curtis Valentine	24 Mar 2026	00:49:48
What does it cost to always be seen as the strong one? In this conversation, Curtis Valentine, founder of Real Men Teach and founder in residence with the American Institute for Boys and Men, joins Ashanti to talk about what it takes to recruit, support, and retain men of color in education. They explore the stereotype that men of color should always be the strong ones, how Real Men Teach grew from a local school board effort into a national movement, why male educators leave classrooms, and what schools can do to create the kind of support that helps them stay. Listen and apply these takeaways to your life and leadership: Strong friends still need help. The expectation that men of color should always carry pressure quietly can make support harder to ask for and harder to receive. Representation matters, but recruitment is only the beginning. If schools want men of color to stay, they need real community, care, and systems of support. Movements can start with something simple. Real Men Teach began as a local effort and grew through outreach, relationships, and shared purpose. Men don’t just leave classrooms because they stop caring. They leave when the conditions around them make it difficult to sustain the work. School change takes partnership. This episode is a reminder that improving schools requires people to bring their ideas, their networks, and their willingness to build with others. Everyone can do a little bit. Whether it’s joining a movement, supporting educators, or collaborating with mission-driven organizations, meaningful change grows through collective action. 00:48 Welcome to Unmasking with Male Educators 02:25 Meet Curtis Valentine 03:17 Curtis’ background + the mission behind Real Men Teach 07:17 How Real Men Teach started: 100 texts, 100 yeses 11:51 The “strong friend” mask and why support still matters 13:02 Why male educators need to model honesty 15:36 The mask question: what students see vs. what they do not 16:50 Curtis on confidence, preparation, and insecurity in teaching 20:19 A story from teaching abroad: learning while leading 24:11 Why great educators stay open to learning from students 27:34 Why more men do not enter or stay in teaching 33:25 Curtis’ classroom story: underprepared, unsupported, and thrown in 35:50 The real barriers facing men of color in education 38:13 Men need purpose, accountability, and clear roles 41:06 Letting male educators teach in authentic ways 43:09 Why boys learn differently and schools need to respond 45:47 The cost of being “the exception” 47:49 How to support Curtis and Real Men Teach 49:06 Closing reflections and outro Connect with Curtis Valentine Real Men Teach American Institute for Boys and Men Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas, Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #MaleEducators #RealMenTeach #CurtisValentine #MenInEducation #BlackMaleEducators
	#62 \| Breathwork, Calm, & Impacting Lives - with Shalin Desai	18 Mar 2026	00:36:24
What if the way through stress isn’t to push harder, but to learn how to come back to yourself? In this conversation, Shalin Desai, engineer, Art of Living Foundation leader, and breathwork teacher, shares how being introduced to these practices at 16 changed the direction of his life. Ashanti and Shalin talk about the masks men wear, the fear of failure, the calm we can carry behind the mask, and why breath is one of the most practical tools we have for working with stress and emotion. They also explore skepticism around contemplative practices, the difference between hearing “be present” and actually knowing how. Listen and apply these takeaways to your life and leadership: The mask of competence can hide a real fear of failure, pressure, and self-judgment, and naming that matters. Calm is not the absence of responsibility; it’s the ability to carry life without letting stress become your identity. The real question isn’t just “be present,” it’s “how?” Shalin points to breath as a direct tool for working with emotional patterns. Breath and emotion are connected: when the breath changes, your internal state can change too. This work becomes real when it restores purpose. Shalin shares a story about a participant who arrived hopeless and left wanting to live. Skepticism doesn’t disqualify anyone. People from many backgrounds can benefit without giving up who they are. (0:00) Meet Shalin Desai + how Art of Living became part of his life (2:54) Shalin’s origin story: his mother’s healing, finding the course at 16, and discovering breathwork early (8:57) Ashanti’s own Art of Living journey + wondering what shifts when young people learn peace sooner (10:19) The masks we wear: competence, fear of failure, calm, irritation, and ending the day without regret (13:50) “That sounds good, but how?” bringing spiritual ideas into real-life stress (15:21) The connection between breath and emotions + why breathwork is practical, not abstract (17:42) A participant’s suicide note story + what happens when someone reconnects to purpose (20:20) Skepticism, openness, and why people are more ready now to try meditation and breathwork (22:37) Research, results, and why this work keeps spreading (26:50) Types of Art of Living courses + why the practice has to continue beyond one experience (32:07) Emotional overload, algorithms, polarization, and making impact from calm instead of frustration Connect with Shalin Desai Website: artofliving.org Instagram: @shalindesai Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #breathwork #artofliving #emotionalwellness #mensmentalhealth #meditation #wellnessineducation #selfawareness #healingjourney #podcast
	#61 \| 57 Pounds: Healing Myself While Fighting for Our Young People	10 Mar 2026	00:22:48
Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators. In this episode, Ashanti shares a deeply personal update on his health and wellness journey, reflecting on what it has meant to continue detoxing, stay committed to a plant-based lifestyle, and push through both physical and emotional barriers along the way. But this conversation goes beyond the scale. Ashanti connects his fight for health to the realities of being an educator, the sacrifices so many teachers make, and the urgency of creating safer, more responsive spaces for young people in our schools. From chronic pain and food addiction to advocating for students and supporting educators, this episode is a powerful reminder that healing, wellness, and school transformation are all connected. As UnMASKing with Male Educators continues to explore what it means to show up fully for ourselves and our students, this episode invites you to reflect on your own journey, your own wellness, and the ways we can all do better for young people. (0:00) 2026 update and a recap of the detox journey so far (2:20) The emotional battle of hovering near 300 pounds (4:48) Breaking below 300 for the first time in years (6:30) Chronic pain, health, and fighting for your life (7:20) January detox results and total weight released since September (9:40) Learning which foods fuel wellness and which ones don’t (10:50) The sacrifices educators make in service of others (12:10) Supporting young people when schools miss the signs (14:36) Why educators must pay closer attention to what’s happening in their classrooms (16:59) Starting school transformation one classroom at a time (19:22) Bay Area teacher strikes and what they reveal about educator value (21:45) A visual update on the journey and an invitation to join the Million Mask Movement Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator
	#60 \| School Social Work, Grief, & the Boundaries That Keep You in the Work - with Justin Martinez	04 Mar 2026	00:49:54
One social worker. One campus. A hundred invisible fires. In this conversation, Justin Martinez, a Bay Area high school school social worker, assistant baseball coach, and facilitator of a young men’s group called “Are You Man Enough?”, breaks down what it really takes to support students with high needs without losing yourself in the process. Justin shares how his own story (foster care, domestic violence, and becoming a first-gen graduate) shaped his purpose, what he keeps behind the “leader” mask, and why the hardest lesson for helpers is also the most freeing: you can’t save anyone… but you can hand them the keys. Listen and apply these takeaways to your school: The “crown” mask: what it looks like to be the steady leader at school, mentor, role model, coach, while carrying grief and pressure underneath Countertransference in real life: how to notice when a student’s story hits your own… and not let it bleed into the relationship Two lenses, one campus: why wellness teams and disciplinary systems clash, and how students pay the price when adults aren’t aligned “I can’t save anyone” isn’t cold, it’s a boundary: how over-functioning creates burnout (and attaches your worth to outcomes you can’t control) The keys metaphor: “I can walk you to the door and hand you the keys… but you have to open it.” What school social workers actually do: wellness check-ins, crisis triage, re-regulation spaces, risk assessments, referrals, and constant problem-solving Accountability with care: holding young men to a higher standard without talking down to them Real strength includes rest: the crown is heavy… and strong men still take it off (0:00) Class in session + meet Justin Martinez (2:38) Justin’s story: foster care due to domestic violence + becoming a first-gen grad to return and be what he needed (10:10) Behind Justin’s mask: grief, countertransference, walking on eggshells, inequity, targeted students, and “I can’t save anyone” (15:10) “I can’t save anyone” + the keys/door framework (resources, boundaries, and surrendering outcomes) (20:50) Learning the boundary the hard way: wanting to “fix” a family’s crisis and hitting system limits (27:31) A day in school social work: QR code referrals, wellness check-ins, re-regulation room, crisis calls, risk assessments (33:14) Biggest challenge: collaborating with staff when lenses don’t match—and harmful narratives about students persist (36:10) Why schools need more men in wellness roles: impact, mentorship, emotional modeling (38:57) What young men are facing: accountability, consequences, pressure, and future-focus conversations (43:35) Closing question: “How heavy is that crown?” + grief, family weight, and learning when to take it off Connect with Justin Martinez Instagram: @just_in_tiime_ Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #schoolsocialwork #studentwellness #teacherretention #mentorship #mensmentalhealth #emotionalwellness #restisstrength #youthadvocacy
	#59 \| The Mentorship Lineage of Black Male Educators: Jacob Cory Gold, Dr. Willie Williams, Reginald Williams — Belief, Masks, and the Seeds That Outlive You	25 Feb 2026	00:57:15
Three Black male educators. Three generations of impact. One powerful through-line: belief. In this conversation, Jacob (Cory Gold), Dr. Willie Williams, and Reginald Williams unpack what it means to teach while carrying a mask, showing strength, joy, fairness, and love… while holding grief, pressure, mental health, and the realities of being a young Black man in a profession where you’re often the only one. You’ll hear how mentorship travels: teacher → student → teacher → the next student… and how small moments in schools become lifelong turning points. Listen and apply these takeaways to your school: Belief as a daily practice: what it looks like to “clock in” for kids like a coach—showing up early, present, and intentional Fairness vs. equality: how “being strict but understanding” builds trust (and why students can smell a facade) The mask exercise (front + back): what educators show the world vs. what we carry behind the smile Why teaching is still a “dangerous” profession for Black folks: the weight of history, politics, and protecting students without drowning them Planting seeds that go home: phrases, routines, and presence that outlive the classroom and come back 15 years later (0:00) Class in session + meet Jacob “Cory Gold,” Dr. Willie Williams, and Reginald Williams (1:30) Jacob introduces himself: “walking in the light” as a spiritual being inside school buildings (2:10) Dr. Willie: meeting Jacob as a high school student who needed someone to slow him down (4:10) Reginald: why he became a teacher, representation, trust, and seeing leadership up close (6:45) Mask exercise explained: 3 words on the front, 3 on the back (7:25) Reginald’s mask: fairness/justice, passion, strict-but-understanding + joy, intention, hiding the lows (10:30) Jacob’s mask: joy, intention, light, love + poverty background, hunger check-ins, leading with questions (15:10) Dr. Willie’s mask: God, love, strength + protecting students politically, mental health, and dating as a Black male educator (22:00) Ashanti’s mask: caring/serious/passionate + worry, self-doubt, family weight (26:40) The big question: “How does belief in your students show up every day?” (31:05) Reginald: the “lightbulb moment” and why students want their teacher back after a sub (33:10) Jacob reflects on impact: gratitude for seeing the “increase” across generations (41:00) Reginald on planting seeds: being uniquely yourself, meeting students where they are (44:45) Willie: teaching as “dangerous” historically + the need for community among Black male educators (50:15) Dr. Willie: more eye-level conversations + Book #18: The Black Male Resiliency Experience Connect with the Guests Dr. Willie Williams Book: The Black Male Resiliency Experience Company: Accepted Admissions (educational consulting) Jacob (Cory Gold) Shares “All Things Light” content (YouTube/Instagram) Reginald Williams Educator (Year 3) + community builder through clubs/activities/coaching energy Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm
	#58 \| “Recruiting Someone Back to the Scene of a Crime”: Sharif El-Mekki, Black Men in Education, & the Work Schools Avoid	18 Feb 2026	00:47:31
This episode is a masterclass in what it really costs to be a Black man in education and what it takes to build something better. Sharif El-Mekki (Center for Black Educator Development) breaks down the “trifecta” that grinds educators down, why many recruitment efforts are ill-informed and unserious, and how a student-led rallying cry became a national pipeline movement: #WeNeedBlackTeachers. Listen and apply these takeaways to your school tomorrow: Why “work twice as hard to get half as far” can become a trap and where the pressure should go (the system, not the child) The educator “mask” that looks like strength…but is really stoicism, compartmentalization, and survival What changes when you stop separating your lived experience from your teaching: students become more demanding (and that’s a good thing) “Raised Woke” and the power of student agency: when young people start making real demands, like meeting real Panthers The Black educator pipeline problem, the leaky retention reality, and why retention is the strongest recruitment strategy The 3Ps framework: Policy & Advocacy, Professional Development, Pathways—and what it looks like in real schools The mental health toll on Black male educators: experiencing bias as a kid, as a professional, and deciding whether to protect kids in the same system (0:00) Class in session + meet Sharif El-Mekki(1:15) Philly Seventh Ward + why Du Bois still matters (2:35) “Stop telling Black boys they need to be twice as good” + the John Henry warning (6:05) The mask question: what we show vs. what we carry (9:35) Ashanti’s mask: purpose on the front, fear + political anger behind it (12:10) Sharif’s mask: love for community on the front, stoicism + withholding his story behind it (19:55) What students do when you bring your full self: “Raised Woke,” demands, and agency(24:20) Center for Black Educator Development + rebuilding a national Black teacher pipeline (26:05) The 3Ps: policy/advocacy, professional learning, pathways (27:10) The high school pathway: teaching as CTE + Black pedagogical framework (33:15) The convening: not a conference—work, community, action (9th annual this fall) (39:35) Men’s mental health + the “trifecta” that grinds Black educators down (41:55) Retention playbook + why anti-racist ecosystems retain educators (45:30) Where to follow + how to get registration updates: #WeNeedBlackTeachers (46:20) Show your mask anonymously + closing (47:10) The intergenerational power: high school + college + veteran educators in the same room Connect with Sharif El-Mekki / Center for Black Educator Development We Need Black Teachers (updates + newsletter): weneedblackteachers.org Hashtag: #WeNeedBlackTeachers Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #takingoffthemask #millionmaskmovement #weneedblackteachers #blackmaleteachers #blackeducators #teacherretention #educationleadership #emotionalwellness
	#57 \| From “I Never Wanted to Teach” to Transforming 50+ Schools: Kyle Sumrow, Robby Cobbs, & the Real Work Behind EdTech	11 Feb 2026	01:17:15
This is the story of two educators who never planned to become educators, and ended up building an edtech nonprofit that’s served 50+ schools in Puerto Rico. Robby Cobbs and Kyle Sumrow break down the “international teaching cheat code,” the masks they wear as leaders, and how they turned frustration into a system that helps schools build real tech plans (not PDFs that die in a Google Drive). Listen and apply these takeaways to your school tomorrow: Why “dignity” matters more than “respect”, and how that mindset changes your classroom and your leadership Fairness vs. equality (the glasses example) + why “kindness all the time” isn’t soft, it’s strategic The power of community when you’re far from home: international schools, brotherhood, and what “family” can mean when it’s built (not forced) How TechMySchool was born in Puerto Rico, no libraries, not enough books, and one question that sparked a movement (0:00) Class in session + meet Robby Cobbs and Kyle Sumrow (0:30) Robby’s origin story: from “no teacher dreams” to finding home in schools (5:30) Teaching in inner-city schools + the travel bug that changed everything (7:00) International teaching explained (housing, flights, medical, taxes) (13:35) Kyle’s journey: music school → bus driver → subbing → “this is what I want to do” (18:50) Teaching as the ultimate learning hack (bio → CS → film → audio → auto) (30:10) “Family” in international schools—when community builds itself (35:40) The “mask” exercise: what you show vs. what you carry as a leader (38:00) Kyle’s mask: dignity, fairness, growth and the unseen leadership habits (41:30) Robby’s mask: confident leader, service, empathy and the hidden frustration behind nonprofit work (52:20) TechMySchool origin story: Puerto Rico schools, no libraries, and scaling from 1 school to 50+ (55:15) “Week Without Walls” + bringing students to other places for perspective shifts (1:09:50) How to support + the Caribbean edtech conference (April 10–11) (1:11:10) TechPlanGenie: AI-powered tech planning + accountability + end-of-year report Connect with Robby Cobbs + Kyle Sumrow / TechMySchool: Website: techmyschool.org Instagram/Facebook: Tech My School Caribbean EdTech Conference: April 10–11 Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace
	#56 \| ICE, Alex Pretti, & Emotional Landmines: What Our Students Are Carrying (and What Schools Can Do Now)	04 Feb 2026	00:35:53
In this episode, Ashanti Branch shares what he’s been witnessing in schools and in the broader social climate surrounding ICE, Alex Pretti, and how it shows up in students’ bodies, behavior, and sense of safety. He opens with a lunch conversation with a group of young men who name the pressures they feel: expectations, relationships, emotions, and not always having someone they trust when they’re struggling. From there, Ashanti expands into a bigger message for educators and communities: when young people (and adults) don’t have a safe way to release what they’re carrying, they can end up walking around like “emotional landmines”, until one moment sets everything off. Don’t wait for a crisis to make emotional well-being a priority. Ask students how they’re doing, build spaces for honest conversation, and use mask-making as a practical tool for connection and healing. A lunch conversation with young men: pressure, relationships, emotions, and trust “Emotional landmines” and what happens when people store it all up Masculinity, power, and what violence can look like when manhood feels threatened Stories that show the impact of fear and rhetoric on young people Why silence (and “staying in our lane”) isn’t a protection plan A direct invitation to educators: be proactive, not reactive How mask-making can open honest conversations in your school/community (0:00) Welcome + why Ashanti is speaking directly in this solo reflection (2:18) Lunch with young men: emotions, expectations, trust, and vulnerability (4:10) Naming “emotional landmines” and feeling the pressure personally (5:51) Early life reflections + how we learn to see the world clearly (7:54) A quote that frames masculinity, power, and the threat of equality (12:08) A young person’s testimony: “How can I focus on school when I’m worried about my family?” (16:06) “What are we willing to do to protect what we say we believe?” (18:57) A story about a 10-year-old boy and the ripple effects of fear and threats (21:41) Why people “store it up” until one moment becomes an explosion (22:02) Protests, speaking out, and finding your lane for action (26:59) A direct ask for educators: don’t wait for crisis—create emotional support now (29:21) Invitation: make a mask, invite others, and build connection before the “boom” Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #diaryofaconfusededucator #emotionalsafety #emotionallandmines #maskmaking #everforwardclub
	#55 \| Show Your Work: Language, Masculinity, and the Future of Learning – w/ Dr. Mark Anthony Neal – Professor, Duke University	28 Jan 2026	00:56:40
What happens when “being professional” quietly turns into “being unseen”? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Mark Anthony Neal, Black Studies scholar, writer, and professor at Duke University, joins Ashanti for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about masks we wear in education, what students have lost (and gained) in the post-pandemic classroom, and why freedom with language can be a pathway to belonging. In this episode, they cover: Growing up working class in the South Bronx: a father who wasn’t verbal, but spoke through Sunday breakfast, gospel, and the Mets “Stoicism as a mask”: how Black men learn to control emotion by pretending they don’t have any Why aging (and experience) shifted Dr. Neal’s teaching: from gravitas and control → toward visible humanity and frailty The hidden cost of the attacks on Black Studies: not always bans—sometimes student fear and “natural attrition” Building the classroom as a vernacular space: language as freedom, not a barrier to participation Imposter syndrome and “talking right”: how fear of sounding smart silences students before they ever start “Students are like iPhone updates”: why educators have to recalibrate pedagogy every few years Post-pandemic social gaps: why mentoring feels harder for students who didn’t practice relationships outside their homes Save a Seat for Me: a love letter to Black fathers—and a new language for how Black men show up emotionally (0:01) Welcome + Dr. Mark Anthony Neal introduces himself (South Bronx roots, working-class parents, path from high school teaching to the academy) (1:45) Music as love language: Sunday breakfast, gospel, jazz/blues, and baseball as father-son connection (4:03) Upcoming book: Save a Seat for Me and why Black fatherhood is inseparable from American fatherhood (5:46) The “mask” framework: what we show vs. what we protect as educators (9:05) “Stoicism as control”: why many Black men learn to hide interiority (especially anger) (18:22) Teaching style shift: from “professorial gravitas” → toward conversational, accessible learning (20:24) Language & belonging: making the classroom a vernacular space (and why code-switching isn’t the classroom goal) (27:57) Representation reality: brilliant Black women teachers early on—but no Black male teacher until Dr. Neal became one (32:16) “Higher expectations”: why lowering the bar is one of the most common ways schools fail Black students (54:31) Closing invitation: share your mask anonymously at Million Mask Movement Connect with Dr. Mark Anthony Neal Book: Save a Seat for Me (Simon & Schuster) — publishing August 4, 2026 Pre-order: Amazon, Simon & Schuster, and (hopefully) independent Black bookstores Instagram: @BookerBBBrown Twitter: @NewBlackMan Resources & Ways to Engage The Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org Educator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your school Global Young Men’s Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spaces Ever Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorship Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ 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/⁠ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #BlackStudies #BlackMaleEducators #BlackFatherhood #Masculinity #EmotionalSafety #HigherEd #TeacherLife #StudentBelonging #Mentorship #CodeSwitching #AIInEducation #ShowYourWork
	#54 \| Heart Before Head: The Emotional Work Behind Academic Success – w/ Dr. Calvin J. Hadley – Assistant Provost, Howard University	21 Jan 2026	00:58:21
What if the breakthrough for Black boys and men in education isn’t more pressure… but more belonging? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Calvin J. Hadley, Assistant Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Partnerships at Howard University, joins Ashanti for a real conversation about what’s happening to Black male enrollment, why emotional safety has to come before performance, and what it looks like to build a community where men don’t have to “hold it down” alone. In this episode, they cover: Why Black men often aren’t given the tools to understand, and move through their emotions (and how that shows up as a “mask”) “Mirror-cleaning” work: what young Black men see when they look at themselves and how to blow limitations off the hinges Emotional intelligence as a muscle many men never got to exercise (and why naming weakness matters) The Men of the Mecca faculty/staff check-ins: “45 minutes of real check-ins”… and why grown men end up crying Health avoidance, cultural fear, and why “put your oxygen mask on first” isn’t a cliché it’s leadership “Emotion overrides intellect”: why we can know what to do—and still not do it The crisis of Black male presence in higher ed (Howard’s context + HBCU averages) Belonging, rites of passage, and the “Burning of Fear” ceremony, writing fears down and burning them together “Look to your left and right…”: brotherhood as responsibility, not just connection Timestamps (0:01) Intro: who Dr. Hadley is + what this episode tackles (enrollment, emotional barriers, belonging, masks) (0:01) Welcome + Dr. Hadley introduces himself (son of Harold & Ernestine, two-time Howard grad, father/husband, Assistant Provost role) (10:33) Dr. Hadley: Men of the Mecca language—“taking off the mask” + not being taught emotional tools (12:30) “Mirror cleaning” + the “N-word mask” and how limitations get internalized (16:11) Emotional honesty: “I’m fairly emotional… I start crying on podcast” + “intellectual juggernaut / emotional first-grader” (24:40) Men of the Mecca: student support → faculty/staff arm → a space to check in for real (26:12) Annual physical moment: a room full of high-achieving Black men hanging their heads—health avoidance and cultural fear (27:45) “Put your oxygen mask on first”: why educator wellness is student success work (29:35) “Emotion overrides intellect”: you can’t teach, lead, or heal past what hasn’t been felt (41:13) Rites of passage + “Burning of Fear”: write fears down, burn them, and build responsibility through brotherhood (57:47) How to connect/partner + Dr. Hadley shares his email; closing invitation to make a mask anonymously Connect with Dr. Calvin J. Hadley Email (partnerships / school districts / collaboration): calvin.hadley@howard.edu Howard University work: Men of the Mecca (student + faculty/staff community-building) Resources & Ways to Engage The Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org Educator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your school Global Young Men’s Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spaces Ever Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorship Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ 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/⁠ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #BlackMaleEducators #BlackBoys #BlackMenHealing #EmotionalSafety #StudentSuccess #HigherEd #HBCU #Mentorship #Belonging #MensWellness #TraumaInformedEducation
	#53 \| You’re Worth the Pause: Building Brave Spaces for Black Male Educators – w/ Ayodele Harrison – Founder, BMEsTalk	14 Jan 2026	00:58:11
What if the leadership move you need most right now isn’t to push harder… but to pause? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ayodele Harrison, educator, facilitator, and founder of Black Male Educators Talk (BMEsTalk) joins host Ashanti Branch for a real, layered conversation about the masks Black men learn to wear in schools, in leadership, and in life. Ayodele shares how BMEsTalk is building a leadership ecosystem rooted in brotherhood, wellness, and nonjudgmental connection, because too many men are expected to “hold it down” while quietly running on empty. In this episode, they cover: The mask of the leader: extroversion on the outside, overthinking and introversion on the inside Why Black men are conditioned to tie worth to usefulness, output, and performance “You’re worth the pause”: making the case for wellness when the ROI isn’t immediate How to start men’s healing spaces without forcing vulnerability too fast (tables first, circle later) Why “safe” isn’t always the right word—and what a brave space invites instead White supremacy as a system designed to disconnect—and what it does to relationships and identity The power & privilege wheel: understanding marginalization and proximity to power How Black male privilege shows up (and why naming it can change how we show up for Black women) The “Dear Black Man” grounding practice that opens every BMEsTalk engagement (0:00) Welcome + Ashanti’s self-doubt moment (even saying the guest’s name) (0:35) Ayodele’s story: Seattle roots, Howard alum, engineering → education (1:27) What BMEsTalk is building: brotherhood, wellness, leadership ecosystem (15:16) Public vs. private schooling—and how certain environments can stunt growth (17:03) Ayodele’s “back of the mask”: creative, faith, introversion + expectations to lead (23:01) The performance trap: “being human is not enough” + the pressure to earn love (25:07) The “Dear Black Man” letter + pausing to reset expectations in the room (31:27) “You’re worth the pause”: why men struggle to believe wellness has ROI (41:36) Designing for men’s nervous systems: why circles can be too much too soon (44:15) When wellness gets weaponized: going “deep” without time to close the box (51:56) Wielding privilege to protect, provide, and stand with Black women (53:43) Why this needs a Part 2 (and what young men need from these conversations) (54:20) Where to find Ayodele + BMEsTalk (55:05) The Affirmation Crown: building something wearable that speaks life into you (55:35) Share your mask anonymously + invite a friend into the reflection Connect with Ayodele Harrison Ayodele on LinkedIn (search: “Ayodele Harrison”) BMEsTalk (Black Male Educators Talk): national convener building leadership, culture, and community for Black educators. Affirmation Crown (hands-on reflection experience). Resources & Ways to Engage The Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org Educator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your school Global Young Men’s Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spaces Ever Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorship Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ 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/⁠ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #BlackMaleEducators #BMEsTalk #BlackMenHealing #BraveSpaces #EmotionalWellness #SchoolLeadership #SEL
	#52 \| Why Not Today? (Dr. Steve Perry’s Wake-Up Call for Educators)	07 Jan 2026	00:54:59
This episode didn’t go the way we planned, in the best way. Instead of a traditional interview, Dr. Steve Perry steps in with the kind of mentoring questions that don’t let you hide behind “next month,” “next season,” or “when I’m ready.” It becomes a real-time reflection on fear, purpose, leadership, and what it costs, personally and professionally, when we hold back what we’re here to give. Dr. Perry reminds us: our students are living right now. And we don’t get to “take a day off” from the responsibility of showing up with our full presence, because we don’t know what moment might change a child’s life. In this episode, we cover: Why “tomorrow” can be a socially acceptable form of fear The difference between the people you care about and the people you’re trying to impress How bullying and old wounds show up as hesitation, second-guessing, and “playing small” in adulthood What it means to live the advice you give young people (0:00) Dr. Perry’s opening reminder: “Get home safely.” Why educators can’t “take a period off.” (0:32) Ashanti sets the tone: this is a different kind of episode—more reflection, more mentoring (5:12) “Are you sure you’re going to be here in 2026?” Mortality, urgency, and getting present (8:21) Who are you worried about… and why do they have so much power? (15:44) Show intro: the loneliness of being a male educator & why this space exists (16:22) Dr. Perry’s mission: education, power, and fighting for Black and Latin students (22:24) The fear behind staying quiet—and what it’s costing (31:22) “If a kid came to you with a phone full of songs…” Living your own advice (42:06) Internal bullies, exaggerated fears, and the stories we let run our lives (46:24) “Why not now? Why not today?” The challenge to stop hiding behind phases (48:18) Dr. Perry: kids are living now—your presence might be the moment that changes everything (50:51) “Release the first video. Tomorrow, the next.” Fear, discomfort, and jumping anyway (53:08) Where to see Dr. Perry’s work: “Come to our schools.” Reflection questions to sit with Who do you care about—really? Who are you worried about—and why? What would change if you stopped letting unnamed people dictate your behavior? Resources & Ways to Engage The Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org Educator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your school Global Young Men’s Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spaces Ever Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorship Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support #UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #MaleEducators #EmotionalSafety #SchoolCulture #Mentorship #StudentWellbeing #EducationLeadership #DrStevePerry #EverForwardClub
	#51 \| What’s Behind the Smile? What Young Men Are Really Carrying – Data, Masks & the Crisis of Emotional Safety	31 Dec 2025	00:39:36
What if the students who say they’re “good” are the ones we need to check on the most? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti Branch pulls back the curtain on what young men are actually carrying beneath the surface, using real words, real data, and real stories from the Global Young Men’s Conference and the Million Mask Movement. Drawing from over two decades of work with young men, Ashanti walks listeners through powerful mask reflections created by students across the Bay Area. These masks reveal a striking disconnect between what young men show the world, happy, funny, kind, and what they hide, sadness, anger, exhaustion, loneliness, fear. Through stories, statistics, and lived experience, Ashanti challenges educators, parents, and systems to stop mistaking compliance for wellness and silence for safety. This episode is both a wake-up call and an invitation: to slow down, ask better questions, create emotionally safer spaces, and truly mean it when we ask, “How are you doing?” Why “I’m good” is often a mask, not the truth What young men’s masks reveal about loneliness, sadness, and emotional overload The dangerous gap between how students appear and how they actually feel Why emotional safety is foundational to attendance, behavior, and academic success How fear, violence, and instability shape students’ ability to show up to school The hidden emotional labor young men carry to protect others from worrying Why humor, kindness, and being “the funny one” can be survival strategies How social media, isolation, and consumption culture deepen disconnection What educators miss when curriculum matters more than connection How the Million Mask Movement helps schools get to the root, not just the symptoms Why listening—not fixing—is often the most powerful intervention A call to parents, educators, and leaders to stop staying silent In this episode, Ashanti explores: (0:00) Welcome to unMASKing with Male Educators (0:41) Why this conversation matters as we head into 2026 (2:00) Data as words: listening to what young men aren’t saying (5:04) Voices from the Global Young Men’s Conference (6:28) Introducing the Million Mask reflections (12:00) Why students don’t show up when they don’t feel safe (15:12) Survival brains, fear, and school attendance (16:30) Front-of-mask data: happy, funny, kind (17:09) Back-of-mask data: sad, angry, tired, alone (19:34) What “happy” students are hiding (22:41) The emotional cost of never being asked twice (24:55) The funny kid: humor as armor (27:18) Social media, isolation, and identity fragmentation (30:47) Why words matter more than spreadsheets (33:15) Invitation to make a mask and bring this work to schools (35:33) Speaking truth to systems and school boards (38:00) A call to parents, educators, and advocates (40:00) Closing reflections and what’s coming next Resources & Ways to Engage The Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org Educator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your school Global Young Men’s Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spaces Ever Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorship Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #emotionalSafety #SEL #youthvoice #schoolculture #mentalhealthineducation
	Don't Ignore It: What a 30-day cleanse taught me about educators, self-care, and the state of our boys	24 Dec 2025	00:51:48
Welcome back to UnMASKing with Male Educators. As we reflect and look ahead, we’re revisiting one of the most personal and vulnerable episodes of the podcast, a re-release of Episode 42. Ashanti shares an honest journey through a 30-day detox that became much more than a health reset. It became a mirror, revealing how food, work, service, and self-neglect can quietly take control when we’re carrying the weight of leadership, community care, and purpose-driven work. This episode invites listeners to consider how toxins don’t just live in our bodies, they also live in our systems, including our schools. Ashanti connects personal wellness, burnout, masculinity, and emotional labor to the urgent need for proactive care for educators and young people, especially young men. As we prepare for what’s next with Ever Forward Club and the Million Mask Movement, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and ask an essential question: Who takes care of the caregivers? How food, work, and service can become coping mechanisms What it means to reclaim health while leading others Why self-care is not selfish, it’s necessary for sustainability The connection between personal detox and detoxifying school culture How unaddressed emotional pain shows up in classrooms and communities Why proactive care for young men is urgent, not optional (0:00) Reflection on re-releasing Episode 42 (2:30) Early relationship with food, family, and service (6:45) The 30-day detox and what surfaced emotionally (10:30) Weight, health scares, and confronting personal limits (14:30) Why we need people who check in on us honestly (17:50) Educator burnout and the cost of always “being strong” (22:00) The role of Ever Forward Club and community care (23:00) More on the 30-day detox (28:50) Schools in crisis vs. schools doing proactive wellness work (34:50) Why detoxifying schools requires honesty and courage (39:15) The data behind the Global Young Men’s Conference (43:50) The Million Mask Movement as a tool for healing (48:30) A call to action: supporting young men and educators (51:00) Closing reflections and looking ahead to 2026 “You can’t be of service if your body is falling apart.” This conversation reminds us that emotional suppression, overwork, and silence come at a cost — and that healing must happen inside ourselves before it can happen in our schools. Support the Work: Create your own mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org Learn about the Global Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Support Ever Forward Club’s mission: https://everforwardclub.org 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/ As we close out the year and prepare for what’s ahead, we invite you to listen with care, reflect honestly, and consider one step you can take toward greater health — for yourself, and for the young people and communities you serve. Thank you for being part of UnMASKing with Male Educators. We’ll see you soon! #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator
	Compassion and Dignity for Educators: The key to changing school communities - w/ Dr. Bill Penuel	17 Dec 2025	00:55:00
Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators. As we close out the year, we’re revisiting some of the most downloaded and most meaningful conversations of the season. This replay with Dr. William (Bill) Penuel is one of those episodes that continues to resonate deeply with educators who are navigating burnout, discipline challenges, and the emotional weight of teaching in today’s schools. Dr. Bill Penuel is a former middle school teacher, professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, and a nationally recognized scholar focused on educational change, compassion, and justice in school communities. He is the co-author of Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities, a book that invites educators to rethink discipline, grading, and leadership through an inside-out approach rooted in self-compassion and collective care. As we prepare for a new season of UnMASKing with Male Educators, returning with fresh conversations and exciting news about where we’re headed—we invite you to slow down, reflect, and revisit this powerful dialogue. This episode reminds us that schools are often sites of suffering, and that compassion is not weakness, it’s a skill, a practice, and a path toward justice. Wishing you and your loved ones a restful and restorative holiday season. In this conversation, we explore how educators can cultivate compassion for themselves and their students while navigating the real challenges of classrooms and school systems. You’ll hear: How to shift your relationship to pain in order to best serve yourself and your students How educators can put self-compassion into action What does skillful care look like for children who are systemically marginalized? What is an “inside-out” approach to school change? (0:00) Class in session (2:00) Bill introduces himself (3:40) Bill and Ashanti share their teacher personas (11:20) Applying “contemplative practice” and “meditation” to teaching and education (12:30) Getting close to your resentment (17:20) Sitting with your pain and suffering in order to help others (22:00) Working as a bouncer and what it teaches you about servicing others (29:00) Finding common humanity, and how it helps navigating difficult situations (34:50) Critical Care - an important subject in the field of education (39:00) Deservingness gets in the way of compassion (41:30) Bill’s approach to helping boys in schools and confirming dignity (51:00) Bill’s book and where to find it --- Connect with Bill Penuel: Bill’s book: https://www.colorado.edu/crowninstitute/compassionate-change-schools-book LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-penuel-8069b5/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowninstitutecu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrownInstituteCU --- Contribute to our Dance-a-thon fundraiser: https://charity.pledgeit.org/EFC-DanceAThon Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ --- 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/ --- Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support --- 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/
	Students are Leaving Their Work BLANK - Here’s Why	10 Dec 2025	00:28:12
Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators. As we close out the year, we’re revisiting some of our most impactful, most downloaded, and most transformative conversations of the season. This episode dives into a moment that has stayed with me, traveling around the world, stepping into classrooms, and noticing something surprising: more and more young people were leaving their work blank during my workshops. We unpack the patterns I saw, what they revealed about student emotional safety, and how those insights continue to shape my work with educators everywhere. As we gear up for a new season of UnMASKing with Male Educators, filled with fresh voices and global perspectives, we invite you to pause, reflect, and revisit one of our most thought-provoking conversations. (0:00) Class in session (0:40) Background on the different schools I’ve visited to start the school year and the workshops I hold (11:30) Activity 1 that was left blank: Dear Me (15:30) Why are students leaning on the excuse, “I don’t know what to do.” (19:45) Activity 2 that was left blank: The Mask (23:40) Are students “less trusting” than ever? (25:20) Closing notes and information on the Ever Forward Club Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org/ Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 — Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ --- 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/ --- Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support --- 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/ --- #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator
	How to Start Your Next Semester: Practical Advice from a 7-Year Teaching Veteran - w/ Nicholas Ward - Educator, Mentor, Sports Connoisseur	03 Dec 2025	00:48:52
Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators. As we close out the year, we’re revisiting some of our most impactful, most downloaded, and most transformative conversations of the season. This episode with Nicholas Ward is one we continue to hear about from teachers around the country, practical, personal, and packed with wisdom. It represents exactly why we started this podcast. Nicholas Ward is a middle school history teacher and Athletic Director in East Oakland, where he has spent the last seven years making U.S. and world history meaningful, relevant, and empowering for students from underserved communities. Beyond the classroom, he is committed to mentorship, student leadership, and using sports and community-building to help young people grow. As we look ahead to a new season of UnMASKing with Male Educators, returning in January with fresh conversations from inspiring educators around the globe, we invite you to slow down, take notes, and enjoy one of our community’s favorite episodes. Wishing you a joyful holiday season. In this conversation, we dive into teaching with intention, leading with love, and building systems that help every student feel seen. You’ll hear: How becoming a father has impacted Nicholas’s work as a teacher How Nicholas is intentional and consistent with his 1 on 1 check-ins with students outside of the classroom The mentorship program that Nicholas piloted in his school to empower students across grade levels How he instills the idea that “rigor is love” with his students and parents at the beginning of the year How Nicholas teaches history, media literacy, and primary sources in the era of “fake news”, AI, and smartphone devices The principles and practices that Nicholas implements to start every school year (2:45) Nicholas introduces himself. (4:30) Nicholas and Ashanti share their “teacher personas” (13:00) Being both a father and a male educator (18:30) Building relationships at the beginning of the school year (19:00) The perfect notebook for educators (24:50) The special mentorship program Nicholas piloted at his school (26:20) Communicating to students and parents how “rigor is love”; pushing students to demonstrate what they’ve learned in multiple modalities (31:55) Teaching history in the era of disinformation (36:10) Tying civic engagement to history (40:45) How mentorship breaks down walls - student to student, teacher to teacher, and student to teacher (45:00) How to start the school year according to an expert --- Connect with Nicholas Ward: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captovader/ --- 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 totmpod100@gmail.com Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ --- 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/ --- Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support --- 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/ --- #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator
	#50 \| Building Classrooms Where Students & Teachers Thrive – w/ Dr. Maurice J. Elias – Rutgers University SEL Pioneer	26 Nov 2025	00:40:46
What if the secret to real learning has nothing to do with cognition, and everything to do with emotion? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Maurice J. Elias, Rutgers University professor, psychologist, and one of the nation’s leading voices in social-emotional and character development, joins host Ashanti Branch for a powerful conversation about the emotional foundations of learning, teaching, and school culture. Drawing from 45 years at Rutgers and decades of work in schools around the world, Dr. Elias reveals why classrooms must be places of belonging, purpose, inspiration, and shared humanity. Together, he and Ashanti unpack the masks educators wear: the pressure to be the expert, the expectation to appear confident, and the hidden insecurities and self-doubt beneath the surface. They explore how emotions shape motivation, why students crave mattering, and how educators can build the kind of climate where young people feel seen, valued, and capable of greatness. This episode dives into the heart of school culture, why it breaks, how it heals, and what happens when educators lead with compassion, curiosity, and purpose. The emotional mask of the educator: confidence on the outside, insecurity on the inside Why emotional experiences, not cognition, are the true engine of learning The crisis of mattering: why kids act out when they can’t matter in positive ways How purpose, identity, and belonging fuel motivation and academic success Why students must co-create classroom culture and norms The power of names, stories, and authentic relationships in the classroom What happens when teachers feel called to serve, but systems push them out How school climate either nurtures or destroys learning Why male educators leave, and why networks of support are essential (0:00) Welcome & introduction (0:59) Dr. Elias on identity, humility & purpose (2:00) The educator’s mask: confidence vs. self-doubt (4:00) Ashanti on fear of failure and legacy (6:00) Why students choose negative ways to matter (8:10) Purpose, mattering, and motivation (10:20) Why teachers tie their identity to student success (12:00) Creating school climates people want to be in (13:00) What it takes to build emotionally intelligent classrooms (14:30) Co-constructing classroom norms with students (16:20) Humanizing students: names, stories & connection (17:50) Aspirations, index cards & seeing students’ inner worlds (19:00) Why students love meaningful conversations (26:00) The backstory behind greatness: work, purpose, discipline (28:00) Systems issues in education: what schools are getting wrong (29:30) SEL as preparation for democracy (31:30) The emotional labor of teaching (38:10) Why male educators leave the profession (40:00) Networks of support for male teachers (42:30) SEL4CA and a call to community Connect with Dr. Maurice J. Elias SEL Research & Resources – Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab Emotionally Intelligent Parenting (multi-language editions) Reinvigorating Classroom Environments (new release) SEL4CA – Statewide SEL Network: SEL4CA.org 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/⁠ Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club:⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support⁠ 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/⁠ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator #SEL #emotionalintelligence #schoolculture #teacherwellbeing
	#49 \| What I Learned From Hosting the Young Men’s Conference: Community, Vulnerability & Planting Seeds for 2026	19 Nov 2025	00:24:38
We just wrapped our second Young Men’s Conference, and I’m still taking in the power, the stories, and the lessons this year brought. From 220 registered to nearly 100 young men showing up in person, this year felt bigger, bolder, and more aligned with the work we’ve been building: helping young men normalize vulnerability, step into their strengths, and see themselves in community with mentors who truly see them. This episode is a reflective solo cast on what went well, what surprised us, and how we’re preparing for a global expansion of the movement in 2026. The growth of the Young Men’s Conference from 50 to 100 participants What young men actually said about their experience Why “normalizing vulnerability” remains a radical act What we learned from the 100+ youth who didn’t show up, and how to reach them next year The global partners activating this movement around the world A call to action for parents, mentors, schools, and anyone who cares about young men Timestamps (0:00) Welcome & why this episode is a reflection on the conference (2:30) What worked: attendance, workshops, volunteers & community support (4:48) How we expanded to a bigger venue and deeper partnerships (7:14) Parent testimonials and powerful stories from young men (9:40) Why “normalizing vulnerability” is the theme—and why it matters (11:30) What we learned from 220 registrants but only 100 attendees (14:07) Alberto & Parth share behind-the-scenes insights (18:00) Why this work matters even more after recent tragedies (20:30) The “critical gap” and our responsibility to young men (22:15) A call to action as we prepare for 2026 Join / Contribute to the Young Men’s Conference Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference 2026: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: totmpod100@gmail.com Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ 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/ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club Help us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 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/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator #youngmensconference #normalizevulnerability #everforwardclub
	#48 \| Teaching Through Fear, Faith & Forgiveness – w/ Dr. José Luis Vilson – EduColor Executive Director	12 Nov 2025	00:56:21
Do you ever feel like you’re carrying the weight of your students’ futures on your shoulders? That tension, between hope and exhaustion, between responsibility and grace, is familiar territory for Dr. José Luis Vilson, Executive Director of EduColor and author of This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education. In this powerful episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Vilson joins host Ashanti Branch to talk about the humanity behind teaching, the unseen emotions, the quiet anger, and the relentless faith that change is possible through education. Together, they unpack the “mask” educators wear to stay strong for their students, and what lies beneath: doubt, exhaustion, but also deep love and purpose. Dr. Vilson shares his journey from computer science to classroom teaching, his struggle with imposter syndrome, and how he channels empathy and community to sustain his work. This is a conversation about purpose, healing, and redefining what it means to teach with heart. The mask of the teacher: how educators balance strength with vulnerability Imposter syndrome and self-forgiveness in the profession The moral and spiritual dimensions of teaching Why empathy and “actionable kindness” matter more than ever The legacy of teachers of color and building collective power How to listen deeply to students, and what they’re really saying What AI, democracy, and education all have in common Practical advice for teachers navigating burnout, self-doubt, and isolation Timestamps (0:00) Welcome & introduction (1:00) Dr. Vilson on identity and purpose (3:45) The mission behind becoming a teacher (7:20) Teaching as spiritual and moral work (10:45) The mask: what students see vs. what we hide (18:15) Fear, insecurity, and anger behind the classroom door (23:30) Carrying loss and responsibility as educators (30:00) Teaching as spiritual and legacy work (33:00) Listening to young people, and learning from them (42:00) Helping students see themselves in the future (49:00) AI, forgiveness, and the future of teaching (53:00) Finding community and collective strength Connect with Dr. José Luis Vilson Website – www.thejosevilson.com EduColor – a collective for equity and justice in education This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education 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/⁠ Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club:⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support⁠ 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/⁠ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator
	#47 \| Behind Prison Walls: Healing, Brotherhood, and the Power of Masks w/ Gregory Robinson Jr. (Samson Correctional Institution)	05 Nov 2025	00:34:48
Gregory Robinson Jr. is an author, educator, and mentor currently incarcerated at the Samson Correctional Institution in North Carolina. From behind prison walls, Gregory has built a movement of healing, accountability, and creativity, guiding other men to confront their pain, share their stories, and take off their masks. Through his Wisdom of Creation series and the Million Mask Movement, Gregory has turned confinement into community. He’s teaching lessons on patience, mental health, and the power of choice, all from a place most people would never imagine transformation could begin. In this episode, Ashanti and Gregory explore how healing can happen anywhere, even behind bars, when men are given permission to be honest about what’s really going on inside. Together, they dive into: How the Million Mask Movement reached inside a North Carolina prison Why Gregory gathered “eight brothers, gang leaders, ex-gang leaders, and religious leaders” to take off their masks What happens when men are finally allowed to cry, to feel, and to heal The story behind Gregory’s children’s book The Turtle and what it teaches about patience and progress How creative expression became his form of restorative justice The daily realities of incarceration and how he uses storytelling to reclaim his narrative His message to young men about slowing down, listening to elders, and choosing a different path The truth about control, freedom, and finding peace in your own mind Gregory challenges us to rethink a core truth: “Even when you have no control, when you can’t eat what you want, or call home when you want, the one thing you do have control over is your mind and your narrative.” This conversation is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the belief that every man, no matter where he is, can become a catalyst for change. Timestamps: (0:00) Welcome and introduction with Ashanti (1:24) Gregory on growing up, miseducation, and missing guidance (3:43) Discovering the Million Mask Movement from inside prison (4:06) Bringing the mask to prison: “I sat down eight brothers…” (5:07) Creating mental health spaces behind the walls ( 6:40) The story of The Turtle: lessons on pacing, patience, and acceptance (8:16) “The turtle doesn’t run from danger, it regroups and moves forward” (10:32) Writing books from prison: creativity as survival (12:39) Gregory’s message to youth: “Be patient with life. You don’t have to rush.” (13:50) On control, mindset, and freedom (16:08) How to follow and support Gregory’s work (18:28) Closing reflections: healing from behind the walls Resources mentioned: Instagram: wisdomofcreation2 Facebook Page: Wisdom of Creation 2 Books: The Turtle and A Conscious Journey of My Unfolding available on Amazon GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-wisdom-of-creations-mission support Gregory Robinson Jr. publishing and youth outreach work 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/⁠ Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club:⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support⁠ 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/⁠ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #mentalhealthmatters #healingbehindwalls #educationjustice #restorativejustice #masculinity #emotionalwellness #everforwardclub #schoolculture #brotherhood #teacherwellbeing
	#46 \| Redefining Consequences: Restorative Justice, Accountability, and Healing in Schools w/ Nicholas Bradford (National Center for Restorative Justice)	28 Oct 2025	00:47:29
Nicholas Bradford is the founder and Executive Director of the National Center for Restorative Justice, where he and his team help schools across the country transform discipline systems into spaces for healing, accountability, and connection. A former teacher in Vermont and Washington and a 24-year Coast Guard veteran, Nicholas brings a grounded, compassionate, and deeply practical approach to what it means to build emotionally safe schools. His work challenges educators to replace punishment with purpose and to see conflict as an opportunity for growth rather than control. In this episode, Ashanti and Nicholas unpack what it truly means to create restorative systems that work for kids, for teachers, and for entire school communities. Together, they dive into: The difference between punishment and consequences and why most schools confuse the two How restorative justice actually builds accountability and belonging Why “slowing down” conflict helps kids (and adults) process and grow What it takes to shift school culture from compliance to connection The masks educators wear: confidence, productivity, and quiet doubt How identity, harm, and vulnerability show up for both students and teachers Why apology and repair are essential leadership skills How Nicholas’s own journey from teaching to restorative work reshaped his view of justice, empathy, and education Nicholas challenges us to rethink a core question: Are we trying to get even, or are we trying to get better? And what might happen if every classroom became a space where accountability was human, not punitive? Timestamps: (0:00) Welcome & introduction (0:22) Nicholas on his path from teaching to restorative justice work (3:44) Why suspensions don’t change behavior, “Kids just get better at not getting caught” (6:40) Punishment vs. consequences: Nicholas breaks down the difference (14:06) The masks Nicholas wears: capable, caring, productive, and the doubts underneath (19:17) How restorative circles help students take off their masks (25:23) What restorative justice really looks like in schools (29:56) Building connection as prevention: belonging, relationships, and safety (34:12) Personal work before systems work: why adult regulation matters (38:55) “An unregulated mind can’t regulate another unregulated mind” (43:19) Accountability as an off-ramp from punishment (46:18) Restorative justice in action: student stories of harm and repair (48:07) Resources, books, and mindset shifts for educators (50:31) Closing reflections: conflict as opportunity for learning Connect with Nicholas Bradford Website: National Center for Restorative Justice LinkedIn: Nicholas Bradford Book: A Real World Guide to Restorative Justice in Schools Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com Create your own mask anonymously at⁠ https://millionmask.org/ 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/⁠ Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club:⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support⁠ 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/⁠ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #restorativejustice #educationjustice #socialemotionallearning #everforwardclub #schoolculture #healingineducation #emotionalintelligence #teacherwellbeing

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Explore every episode of the podcast unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms &amp; Schools for Male Students

Explore every episode of the podcast unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students