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
(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
Connect with Ashanti Branch
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Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/
Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/
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