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unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask
278 episodes
4 days ago
Only 23% of K-12 educators in America are male, a gender gap that has serious ramifications for male students - who often face DISPROPORTIONATE disciplinary action. This podcast is for male educators who want to embody a necessary change in schools, via healthy social-emotional outcomes. Come away with actionable lesson plans, relatable stories, and a renewed purpose. The US Surgeon General says the mental health of our youth is the "crisis of our time." Male educators are uniquely positioned to address this - because real men teach. Join our community: "Advocates for Young Men" at Skool.com
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All content for unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students is the property of Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Only 23% of K-12 educators in America are male, a gender gap that has serious ramifications for male students - who often face DISPROPORTIONATE disciplinary action. This podcast is for male educators who want to embody a necessary change in schools, via healthy social-emotional outcomes. Come away with actionable lesson plans, relatable stories, and a renewed purpose. The US Surgeon General says the mental health of our youth is the "crisis of our time." Male educators are uniquely positioned to address this - because real men teach. Join our community: "Advocates for Young Men" at Skool.com
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How To
Education
Episodes (20/278)
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
#51 | What’s Behind the Smile? What Young Men Are Really Carrying – Data, Masks & the Crisis of Emotional Safety

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

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1 day ago
39 minutes 36 seconds

unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
Don't Ignore It: What a 30-day cleanse taught me about educators, self-care, and the state of our boys

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

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1 week ago
51 minutes 48 seconds

unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
Compassion and Dignity for Educators: The key to changing school communities - w/ Dr. Bill Penuel

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/

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2 weeks ago
55 minutes

unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
Students are Leaving Their Work BLANK - Here’s Why

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

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3 weeks ago
28 minutes 12 seconds

unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
How to Start Your Next Semester: Practical Advice from a 7-Year Teaching Veteran - w/ Nicholas Ward - Educator, Mentor, Sports Connoisseur

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

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4 weeks ago
48 minutes 52 seconds

unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
#50 | Building Classrooms Where Students & Teachers Thrive – w/ Dr. Maurice J. Elias – Rutgers University SEL Pioneer

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

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1 month ago
40 minutes 46 seconds

unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
#49 | What I Learned From Hosting the Young Men’s Conference: Community, Vulnerability & Planting Seeds for 2026

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

    Show more...
    1 month ago
    24 minutes 38 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #48 | Teaching Through Fear, Faith & Forgiveness – w/ Dr. José Luis Vilson – EduColor Executive Director

    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.










    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

  • Show more...
    1 month ago
    56 minutes 21 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #47 | Behind Prison Walls: Healing, Brotherhood, and the Power of Masks w/ Gregory Robinson Jr. (Samson Correctional Institution)

    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

    Show more...
    1 month ago
    34 minutes 48 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #46 | Redefining Consequences: Restorative Justice, Accountability, and Healing in Schools w/ Nicholas Bradford (National Center for Restorative Justice)

    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

    Show more...
    2 months ago
    47 minutes 29 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #45 | What I’ve learned from MAGA: Fighting back with positive male mentors

    We police ourselves too much. And by "we" I'm referring to the progressive movement.

    Those on the other side have built a large coalition by putting the conservative agenda above all, ignoring the warts and the ugly within the organization.

    This approach has made me think about what's also limiting us when it comes to recruiting male mentors: We need to embrace our warts instead of being ashamed by them. Mistakes make us better mentors.

    Topics include:

    • The weaknesses of the progressive movement and why they lose the messaging battle
    • What MAGA and people like Andrew Tate have figured out
    • Male mentors and their insecurities

    Timestamps:

    (0:00) Welcome and recapping a retreat I attended in New Mexico

    (3:00) One quote about our current political environment that has really stuck with me

    (9:45) My solution and some problems we’re facing with it: The Young Men’s Conference

    (17:30) Reintroducing rites of passage to our current society

    ---

    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

    Show more...
    2 months ago
    29 minutes 49 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #44 | How a high school class solved SIX MURDERS and identified a SERIAL KILLER - w/ Alex Campbell (Elizabethton High School)

    Alex Campbell is a high school social studies teacher at Elizabethton High School in East Tennessee, where he’s spent more than two decades reimagining what learning can look like. His classroom became known nationally after his students helped investigate and solve Tennessee cold cases, turning lessons in history and sociology into powerful acts of justice.

    As the author of 10 Lessons That Will Get You Fired (But You Must Teach Immediately) and a featured voice on the podcast Murder 101, Alex challenges the limits of traditional education. He believes teachers aren’t just keepers of knowledge, they’re creators of learning experiences who can help students make a tangible impact on the world around them.

    Together, Ashanti and Alex dive deep into:

    • The masks teachers wear: confidence, control, and hidden doubt

    • Why project-based learning transforms classrooms, and lives

    • The story of Alex’s students helping free a woman wrongfully imprisoned for murder

    • How vulnerability, trust, and risk-taking open doors to real learning

    • What it means to teach with courage in a system built for compliance

    • How purpose-driven teaching builds hope, belonging, and self-worth

    Alex’s reflections challenge us to ask:

    Are we teaching content… or changing lives?

    And what happens when we finally trust students to lead their own learning?

    Timestamps:

    (0:00) Welcome & introduction

    (1:22) Alex on teaching in East Tennessee and finding purpose through connection

    (4:10) The mask Alex wears: confident on the outside, uncertain within

    (8:35) “10 Lessons That Will Get You Fired”, why he wrote the book

    (14:55) The power of project-based learning in real classrooms

    (23:10) Students investigating cold cases and seeking justice

    (30:25) When learning becomes life-changing, the story of freeing an innocent woman

    (38:20) How Alex redefines the teacher’s role as a “creator of learning experiences”

    (45:05) Vulnerability and risk-taking in front of students

    (50:15) “Trust your students”, Alex’s message to every educator

    (58:00) Closing reflections: what courage looks like in education today

    ---

    Connect with Alex Campbell:

    Book: 10 Lessons That Will Get You Fired (But You Must Teach Immediately)

    Podcast: Murder 101

    Feature: Knox News – Teacher Alex Campbell and His Students Help Solve Tennessee Cold Cases

    —

    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 #educationjustice #socialemotionallearning #maskmaking #projectbasedlearning #teachersofinstagram #everforwardclub

    Show more...
    2 months ago
    1 hour 1 minute 52 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #43 | Curiosity, Critique & Courage in Education – w/ sam seidel (Stanford d.school)

    What keeps educators going when the system feels overwhelming? How do we balance creativity, critique, and care in classrooms where students face everything from initiative fatigue to gun violence?

    In this episode, Ashanti sits down with sam seidel, educator, author, and Director of Strategy & Research at the Stanford d.school. sam has spent more than 20 years designing schools, launching youth programs, and writing about the intersections of education, identity, creativity, and justice. His most recent book, From White Folks Who Teach in the Hood (with Dr. Christopher Emdin), explores how white educators can engage in classrooms with honesty, humility, and impact.

    Together, Ashanti and sam dive deep into:

    • The masks educators wear: curiosity, critique, and hidden vulnerabilities
    • School safety and Sam’s eye-opening experience shadowing a student during an active shooter drill
    • The toll of initiative fatigue on teachers and students
    • What Sam’s father (also an educator) taught him about anger as fuel for change
    • Why belonging, empathy, and critical reflection matter just as much as curriculum
    • How the Stanford d.school’s School Safety Net is helping schools strengthen community connection
  • Sam’s reflections push us to ask: What’s our learning edge as educators? And how do we keep interrogating the parts of ourselves we often keep hidden?

    Timestamps
    (0:00) Welcome & Introduction
    (1:12) Sam on trust, connection, and why safe conversations matter
    (3:25) Sam introduces himself and his work at the Stanford d.school
    (8:31) Sam’s mask: curious, critical, creative
    (12:18) Vulnerability: cynicism, Jewish identity, and what he hides
    (19:17) Challenges in education today: repression, book bans, and teacher fatigue
    (23:44) AI, initiative overload, and why teachers feel burned out
    (25:14) Sam’s experience with active shooter drills and school safety
    (33:08) Why student connection isn’t “extra”, it’s life-saving
    (44:30) Lessons from his father: anger as fuel for teaching
    (47:15) Sam shares his books & resources


    Connect with sam seidel

    Website: samseidel.isBooks: From White Folks Who Teach in the Hood, Hip Hop Genius 2.0, Creative Hustle, and more

    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 #educationjustice #socialemotionallearning #maskmaking

  • Show more...
    2 months ago
    46 minutes 33 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #42 | Don't Ignore It: What a 30-day cleanse taught me about educators, self-care, and the state of our boys

    I shed 30 pounds, and I’m feeling the best I’ve felt in a while. But it was 30 difficult days - of cravings, headaches, mood swings, brain fog, fatigue, you name it… But it was necessary, and it made me think, “What would that look like for our schools? Our school districts? Our educators and their classrooms?”

    Our schools and our young people are struggling. Are we willing to go through the necessary growing pains?

    (0:00) Class in session

    (8:15) My 30-day plant-based detox, and shedding 30 pounds of waste

    (15:30) Taking in the school board superintendent resignations and the budget shortages at school districts in the Bay Area

    (19:55) Speaking at a church and telling the congregation some upsetting statistics about boys and young men, and about our upcoming Young Men’s Conference

    (26:00) An invitation to contribute to your community in a way that is best for you

    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

    Show more...
    3 months ago
    37 minutes 21 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #41 | The Hidden Struggles of Educators & Students - w/ Dr. Edson Andrade - CSUF Counseling Professor

    Do you ever wonder if you are doing enough? If you are truly making an impact as an educator, mentor, or leader? For Dr. Edson Andrade, those questions have been a constant companion, shaped by his journey as an undocumented immigrant, his experience with imposter syndrome, and his work training the next generation of counselors.

    Dr. Andrade is a professor of counseling at California State University, Fullerton. He trains bilingual and bicultural counselors who are dedicated to serving Latinx communities across Southern California. His story is one of resilience, empathy, and creating spaces of belonging for students navigating complex challenges.

    Today, we discuss:

    • The masks we wear: imposter syndrome, fear, and self-doubt
    • Growing up undocumented for 25 years and finding belonging
    • The role of empathy and relationships in higher education
    • Supporting immigrant and undocumented students in classrooms
    • Why connection matters more than content in learning
    • Advice for young men questioning their worth and place in the world

    Timestamps
     (0:00) Welcome & Introduction
     (0:29) Dr. Andrade introduces himself
     (3:25) Ashanti and Edson share their teacher personas/masks
     (5:35) Edson opens up about imposter syndrome and self-doubt
     (11:16) Timeline reflections and changes in higher ed
     (19:17) Helping students unmask in safe and supportive ways
     (23:18) Edson shares his undocumented journey
     (23:18) Social-emotional intelligence in today’s graduate students
     (27:45) How Edson is navigating imposter syndrome as a professor
     (32:37) A reminder for teachers: pause and see the whole student
     (33:07) Edson’s message to his younger self and today’s youth


    Connect with Dr. Edson Andrade:
    California State University, Fullerton – Counseling Program: https://ed.fullerton.edu

    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

    Show more...
    3 months ago
    38 minutes 21 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #40 | Students are Losing Opportunities for Productive Struggle - Here’s what you can do (feat. Jerome Hunter, Educator, Equity Consultant, Community Leader)

    I bet there are more ways you can create productive struggle in your classroom, and you haven’t thought of them. And I bet taking in what Jerome has to say about smartphones, dopamine, and struggle will help unlock something in you as an educator.

    Jerome is an educational strategist based in Seattle, Washington, who stands at the intersection of education, policy, community engagement, and young men & boys. A TED and NPR-featured educator and community leader, this is Jerome’s third time on the show!

    1. How Jerome works with architects and the community to design schools that promote flexibility and creativity

    2. Why analog tools are making a comeback in schools, and digital tools are being pulled back

    3. How digital technology erases productive struggle and interpersonal skills development

    4. Some new research on how smartphones affect students, and a new article by Jonathan Haidt

    (2:30) Jerome introduces himself

    (6:45) Designing school spaces for 21st-century students, and advocating for more analog learning tools

    (16:00) The disappearance of productive struggle and desired difficulty

    (21:30) Ashanti and Jerome share their masks/teacher personas, and some thoughts on inclusive masculinity and bravery

    (34:30) Jerome’s thoughts on how to start the school year

    (38:30) Jonathan Haidt and student preferences

    (40:00) Student microcognitions and how educators can tackle them

    (45:15) Jerome’s words of advice for male educators



    Website: https://www.jeromeleehunter.com/

    ---

    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

    Show more...
    3 months ago
    47 minutes 57 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #39 | Where are all the trustworthy male educators?

    We've been recruiting male educators to take part in our upcoming Young Men's Conference (details below), and the successes and difficulties in doing so have forced us to confront some important questions:

    Where are all the trustworthy male educators?

    What does it even mean to be a male? To be masculine?

    We hope you take this exercise and exploration as a rallying cry to support your young male students. To empower them with the right choices, role models, and opportunities to create their own narrative. To build their own definition of "masculinity" in a healthy, prosocial way. Enjoy the show :)

    (0:00) Class in session

    (7:00) What we've learned from canvassing the community and building momentum for the Young Men's Conference

    (9:30) What happens if your school campus does not have any trustworthy adult male educators?

    (14:25) What is my definition of masculinity?

    ---

    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

    Show more...
    3 months ago
    28 minutes 4 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #38 | Students are Leaving Their Work BLANK - Here’s Why

    I travel around the world talking to young people and educators. To start the school year, I noticed a lot of young people were leaving their work blank during my workshops. What’s behind this? Something cultural? Pedagogical? Personal? Specific to each particular school? I’m going to share what I learned for future workshops, and how you can apply the lessons of these experiences to your classroom.

    (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/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

    Show more...
    4 months ago
    27 minutes 34 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #37 | That Black Male Teacher “Hits Different” - w/ Jason Muse - SFUSD Educator

    Did you have a Black male teacher growing up? In high school? Middle school? Elementary school? The numbers go down as the grades get lower. But thankfully we have people like Jason.

    Jason is an elementary school teacher based in San Francisco, California. He’s been teaching in some capacity for 13 plus years, and his passion for teaching is rooted in his passion for mentorship and commitment to ensuring young people have what they need for self-actualization.

    Today, we discuss:

    1. How to guide boys and cultivate a healthy relationship with anger

    2. How Jason has achieved longevity in the teaching profession and made it sustainable

    3. How adopting a broad definition of mentorship can be liberating and lead to impact in your classroom

    4. Some encouraging things for male elementary school teachers at the start of this school year

    (0:00) Class Session

    (2:35) Jason introduces himself

    (5:30) Ashanti and Jason share their teacher personas/masks

    (14:00) The challenge of giving boys the space to express themselves, especially anger

    (18:30) Achieving longevity in the teaching profession

    (22:40) Infusing more mentoring in our communities, and embracing a broader definition of “mentor”

    (32:40) Seeing former students in a mentorship role

    (36:00) The role of Black male educators in elementary schools

    (43:40) Jason’s message for all educators

    ---

    Connect with Jason Muse:

    https://linktr.ee/BlackMuze


    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

    Show more...
    4 months ago
    50 minutes 39 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    #36 | The Intersection of Video Games, Neurodivergence, and Good Teaching - w/ Russell Nadel, Music and Movement Educator, Composer

    Russell is a middle school music and movement educator, now entering his 20th year in the profession! And with so many years of experience in the field, he has a wealth of experience with teaching frameworks, student motivation, neurodivergent thinking, and mindfulness. I really hope that you can integrate what he says today into how you approach the start of the 25/26 school year.

    Today, we discuss:

    1. How Russell implements mindfulness practices to help himself and his students transition between school periods

    2. What it’s like to be a teacher with ADHD, Inattentive Type, and how being transparent about this with his students creates a warm and productive classroom community

    3. How Russell uses the Orff Schulwerk framework to teach music, and how it can be applied to all different school subjects

    4. How “leveling up” in video games can be applied in baby steps, especially in school

    5. Russell’s words of encouragement for male teachers starting the upcoming school year

    6. The importance of having someone in the building, at your school site, to share with vulnerably

    (0:00) Class in session

    (2:40) Russell introduces himself

    (6:30) Russell and Ashanti share their teacher personas/masks


    Connect with Russell Nadel:

    Website: http://www.russellnadel.com

    ---

    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

    Show more...
    4 months ago
    55 minutes 3 seconds

    unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
    Only 23% of K-12 educators in America are male, a gender gap that has serious ramifications for male students - who often face DISPROPORTIONATE disciplinary action. This podcast is for male educators who want to embody a necessary change in schools, via healthy social-emotional outcomes. Come away with actionable lesson plans, relatable stories, and a renewed purpose. The US Surgeon General says the mental health of our youth is the "crisis of our time." Male educators are uniquely positioned to address this - because real men teach. Join our community: "Advocates for Young Men" at Skool.com