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

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Antonio Chavez. Recently, Antonio was harassed by a man in Pacific Heights. He recorded a video of the situation, and it went viral. More important than the incident itself, Antonio considers what it means with respect to fatherhood, education, trust, masculinity, and his community. As the founder of Lost Soul Courier Collective, Antonio delivers Nar...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Ryan Louie. Ryan is the producer behind this very podcast, so it felt very fitting to have him as the guest in this one-year anniversary episode. Ashanti and Ryan follow the same format that makes this podcast what it is; they share the front and back of their respective masks and let the conversation go where it needs to be. Along the way they discu...

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Angel and Wenceslao (Wen), two interns at the Ever Forward Club’s Social Emotional Leadership Academy. Through the mask-making process and the card game "Ever Forward Club: The Adventure", Angel and Wen discover they have more in common than what they initially believed. At age 14 and 13, respectively, Angel and Wen are also the youngest individuals t...

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Sam and Ben, two interns at the Ever Forward Club’s Social-Emotional Leadership Academy. Through the mask-making process and the card game "Ever Forward Club: The Adventure", Sam and Ben explore what it is like to not know what to do with the rest of their lives with “adulthood” being right around the corner. They both find comfort in knowing that the...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by José Quintero. José is a Mexican American man, working as a radio host for CALI 93.9, a Spanish reggaeton station in Los Ángeles. Ashanti and José share their excitement over the changing landscape in men’s vulnerability, the many ways to define success, and the similar ground they walk as survivors. Enjoy the episode! (1:55) Ashanti’s introduction....

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Spencer Atkinson. Spencer is a Career Coach and Experiential Educator, helping students at UC Davis navigate university life and find fulfilling careers. In this conversation, Ashanti and Spencer find a connection looking back on their careers as veteran educators. They even overlapped as collaborators at Stanford University. We hope you enjoy hearin...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Christian Lopez. As a former pro athlete, Christian has done the difficult work of rediscovering himself in order to understand what he can offer the world without the label of “pro athlete” hanging over him. When asked what he would like to be listed as his title or job title when we promote the podcast, he simply responded, “Vulnerable Man.” We hop...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Samir Zakir. As an entrepreneur and activist, he has founded companies like Illuminate Entertainment Group and MediaBuzz Global. He and Ashanti both share a desire to have a positive impact on culture and mental health. They share their masks and discuss how their understanding of mental health and wellness has improved over the years. (1:30) Ashanti...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Malcolm Dydo, the Director and Co-Founder of Freedom Within Project. In this conversation, Ashanti’s passion for working with youth is equaled by Malcolm’s drive to create environments that allow the incarcerated population to heal. Recorded on the eve of Father’s Day weekend, Malcolm holds space for Ashanti as he shares his perspective on the holida...

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Kevin and Chioke, two friends who have known each other for 4 years since high school. Through the mask-making process and the card game "Ever Forward Club: The Adventure", Kevin and Chioke go somewhere they have never gone as friends, establishing a deeper connection that felt long overdue. TOTM Face to Face was created during the launch of this podc...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Donté Clark. After watching and being moved by Donté’s poetry, Ashanti invited him on the podcast. What follows is a conversation about compassion, emancipation, and overcoming the “400-year head start” that the Black community has been up against for generations. (1:30) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:30) Donté introduces himself, his work, his interest,...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Victor Manuel de la Mora Patiño. Victor is an alumni of the Ever Forward Club, and, in addition to sharing their masks and reflecting on old times, Victor fills Ashanti with immense pride as he tells Ashanti how he is applying the mentoring principles he has learned from the Ever Forward Club. As the CEO of his own architecture firm, Victor uses his...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Leo L., a high school sophomore living in San Francisco, CA. In his first podcast appearance, Leo shares what it is like being an introvert - specifically an introvert that has adopted a "no regrets" philosophy. Ultimately, Leo's courage, to have such a public and vulnerable discussion with Ashanti, leads to a heartwarming discussion about self-disco...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Denel McMahan. Denel is a high school senior - on the brink of graduation! Though he has yet to receive his diploma (something that will happen in mere days), Denel has already co-founded an alumni association, begun interning for Congressman Eric Swalwell, protested for Black Lives Matter, and coordinated with the local city council to put on social...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Niroj Bhandari. Niroj is based in Nepal, and his non-profit work focuses on strengthening access to health for low and middle income countries. Ashanti and Niroj discuss “gloominess”, providing structures to express and discuss negative emotions healthily, and how accurate the movie Inside Out really is. (00:57) Ashanti's introduction. (5:40) Niroj i...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Joe Hawley. Joe is determined to help professional athletes find their purpose after leaving the game that they love. After 8 seasons in the NFL, Joe retired in 2017, donated his belongings, bought a van, and traveled the US for nearly two years. Ashanti and Joe discuss what’s on the back of Joe’s mask; what Joe learned on the road; the importance of...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Kevin Romero. Kevin is a young college student with an emotional wisdom that goes beyond his years. After sharing their masks, Ashanti and Kevin engage in a deep, philosophical discussion on emotional burdens - how much should the individual be responsible for handling their own emotions, and what is the role of the individual’s peers, significant ot...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Earl Crawford Jr. Earl is a director and principal of multiple programs that serve at-risk youth. He views himself as a “servant leader”, but prefers to leave out the word “leader.” Ashanti and Earl work in the same field. But beyond discussing the world of education, they take off their masks and explore their fears, their family relationships, and...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Luis Canseco. Luis speaks with both youth and adults about domestic violence prevention, and he believes that early prevention and vulnerability are the keys to reducing violence and building a better world. Ashanti and Luis connect over their love of Oaxaca, and discuss how experiences being bullied as children shaped them and their future work advo...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch gives some updates and news around the EFC. He then shares the story of an Ever Forward Club member and student leader, Sam R. Here are some updates: (1:47) An Ever Forward Club student and Ashanti are appearing on the Kelly Clarkson Show, on April 7, 2021, at 3 pm PST. Learn how you can watch the program on NBC or online. (3:46) Alameda High School submitted 1,8...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Smiley Poswolsky. Adam is a person full of empathy, and his desire to build understanding for the common good comes across in this conversation. As a millennial workplace expert, his goal is to foster a sense of belonging in the digital age. Currently he is de-stigmatizing loneliness in his newest book, “ Friendship in the Age of Loneliness.” (1...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Roa. Adam is a renowned artist, poet, and coach. Beyond his millions of YouTube views, Adam is known for being radically vulnerable and open with his emotions. In this conversation, Adam and Ashanti discuss fulfillment, discovering the "magic" of life, and how a giving people the right emotional tools can change perspectives and lead to healthie...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Keita Demming. In addition to his work with The Covenant Group, Keita is interested in how our society can have better conversations. Keita's grandmother passed away recently before the recording of this podcast, and Ashanti lost his grandmother a year ago, so the men bond and reflect on where their emotions have taken them during the grieving proces...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch hosts filmmaker Alex Gabbay, and author and lecturer Dr. Judy Chu, as the three panelists answer audience questions and discuss Alex’s new film " Beyond Men and Masculinity" . In addition to discussing the effects of culture and hierarchy on child development, the panelists are joined by nine-year-old Lucian, the youngest member of Ever Forward Club’s newest boys...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Thomas Sage Pedersen. Thomas hosts the podcast Speak For Change , works as CEO of the award winning music school Everyone's Music School , serves on the Steering Committee for Santa Cruz County’s Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity, and is a Certified Kingian Nonviolence Trainer. Thomas and Ashanti share their masks, and their conversation...