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

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Rosendahl. As a creative entrepreneur and the Chief Experience Officer of Late Nite Art, Adam sees art as a means to humanize individuals and build connections. The two men discuss what it takes to maintain creativity while leading their respective organizations. (1:33) Ashanti’s introduction. (3:28) Adam introduces himself and his work, and the...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jason Gant. Jason is a San Francisco native who brings an international perspective to his work in mental health and athletics. He has collaborated with and supported the youth of Ever Forward Social-Emotional Leadership Academy. Ashanti discusses Jason's curios, adventurous nature, and what he has learned while abroad. (1:24) Ashanti’s introduction....

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Charles Luis Herñañdez, or “Chuck”. Among many things, Chuck is “a man on a mission to lose 300 lbs”. In this conversation, Ashanti and Chuck discuss how each man has gained purpose and inspiration from their friendship. (1:20) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:05) Chuck introduces himself, the origins of his nickname, his family, his work in education, as...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Aaron Jackson. Aaron is a student at the University of San Francisco. Based in Oakland, CA, he was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle’s coverage of the Bay Area’s 2020 graduating high school senior class . Ashanti and Aaron make masks together, and share their similar experiences with the passing of family members. (1:12) Ashanti’s intr...

Everforward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dan Doty. Dan has done it all, from writing, to meditation teaching, to men's coaching, to wilderness exploring, to podcasting, to filmmaking... Ashanti's relationship with Dan includes an appearance on Dan's podcast, as well as a retreat into Joshua Tree with Evryman. In this conversation, Dan and Ashanti explore the fronts and backs of their masks,...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Big Bruh. Big Bruh is a family man, and the host of the podcast Live with Big Bruh . Ashanti and Big Bruh find common ground over hard work, experiences with grief and loss, and conquering the urge to numb pain with distraction instead of confronting pain with honesty and vulnerability. (1:02) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:07) Big Bruh introduces himsel...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jordon Hodges. Jordon is an alumnus of the Ever Forward Club, a former student of Ashanti at San Lorenzo High School, and a UC Irvine graduate, who now works and lives in Orange County, California. The two men discuss how one's expression of anger can change over the course of one's life, and they look back on their experiences at San Lorenzo High Sc...

TOTM Face to Face is a series of podcasts where two or more young men undergo the process of making masks, a workshop activity created by Ashanti Branch. This conversation between Darnell and Marcel is the first time that the two men have ever spoken. (1:05) Ashanti’s introduction. (3:31) Darnell and Marcel “check in”, rating how they are feeling from a scale from 1 to 10 at this moment. (4:23) Th...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA). An accomplished leader, community-builder, and advocate for children and families, Shawn has held a prominent position as mentor in Ashanti's life. The two share a spiritual connection, an intangible brotherhood, and the fronts and backs of their masks flow and roll open without ever...

This week Ashanti Branch is joined by Mike Veny. Mike is a keynote speaker, who usually speaks on mental health topics, and is an author of multiple books, including Transforming Stigma: How to Become a Mental Wellness Superhero . (1:37) Ashanti’s introduction. (3:33) Mike shares his background with Ashanti, including his speaking experience, his own struggles with mental health, and the mission o...

On November 29th, 2020, Ashanti appeared on “Lost Boys,” an episode of Lisa Ling’s nationally televised CNN Program, This Is Life . The episode took on a whole new meaning when things were revealed that he was not yet ready to share with his mother, who was watching the program as it aired live. (0:10) In Ashanti’s introduction he gives context for the special episode, leading up to a story he is...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Justin Odom. Justin is a talented filmmaker and senior at Encinal High School. (1:25) Ashanti’s introduction. (4:00) We learn about how Justin and Ashanti met, and about Justin’s background, his work as a filmmaker, and how he is bringing the Million Mask Movement to his high school. (5:45) Justin talks about the first time he made a mask during his...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Nana Oduro Frimpong, a renowned artist, and photographer based in Ghana. Frimpong was recently named a 2020 Adobe Rising Star of photography.  (1:37) Ashanti’s introduction.  (3:55) Frimpong introduces himself and the journey that led him to art.  (5:20) Ashanti and Frimpong go back to the moment when Frimpong fell in love with photogr...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Chris Ategeka, an entrepreneur, engineer, curator of TEDx Oakland, and the Founder/CEO of UCOT (Unintended Consequences of Technology). (1:25) Ashanti’s Introduction. (4:07) Chris introduces himself - an entrepreneur, engineer, father, and Ugandan. Chris and Ashanti share how they met and have gotten to know each other. (6:00) Chris and Ashanti make...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Mike Sagun, a former Oaklander, a Certified Professional Men’s Coach, and an EVRYMAN Facilitator. (1:20) Ashanti’s introduction (3:50) Mike shares his background, as a business owner, men’s coach, and Bay Area native. (6:00) After an early break in the production, Ashanti and Mike ruminate on the responsibilities of a leader. (10:53) Mike and Ashanti...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Khiari Allen-Infante, a high school senior, Ever Forward Club member, and graduate of EFC’s social-emotional leadership academy. (3:00) Ashanti’s introduction (6:10) Ashanti welcomes Khiari and introduces Khiari’s role with Ever Forward Club and the podcast. (7:10) Khiari and Ashanti make their masks together. (12:15) Khiari shares more about himself...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Nafis Ricks, a mental health advocate, coach, and collaborator with www.forblackmen.org . (1:30) Ashanti’s introduction (3:03) Nafis shares his background, his work as a mental health advocate, his passion for the field of psychology and aspirations to earn a PhD, and how sports and an athletic identity taught him some essential lessons about mental...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Mark Green, keynote speaker and author of the books The Little #MeToo Book for Men and Remaking Manhood . (3:11) Mark shares information about his publishing house, ThinkPlay Partners, NYC. (5:48) We learn about how starting a blog on masculinity 12 years ago, and stepping outside the traditional rules of masculinity led Mark to the work he does toda...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA). An accomplished leader, community-builder, and advocate for children and families, Shawn has held a prominent position as mentor in Ashanti's life. The two share a spiritual connection, an intangible brotherhood, and the fronts and backs of their masks flow and roll open without ever...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by pastor, youth leader, and cyber security business operator Spencer Romero. Spencer is not a stranger to the mask-making process, as Ashanti and Spencer have known each other for ten years. Ashanti has seen Spencer grow into a wonderful pastor and youth leader through their affiliation with TheMovement.church, in Oakland, California, whose mission is...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by educator, activist, and podcast host Wali White. Wali previously hosted Ashanti on The 730 Podcast. Check out the bottom of the notes to be linked to Wali’s podcast. As a New York City school teacher, Wali, like Ashanti, has witnessed first hand the power of shared vulnerability to create life changing relationships. (3:28) Ashanti introduces the pod...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by mask maker and artist, Freehand Profit, also known as Gary Lockwood. Gary began making masks ten years ago, starting a movement on his blog called “Mask 365”, in which he created one mask every day for a year. Now with over 161,000 Instagram followers, he has become known for reimagining and taking apart sneakers, transforming them into one of a kind...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by fellow Fremont High School alumni; Dean of Students at Latitude High School in Oakland, CA; and music artist, magazine curator, and podcast host Noxhe Galactica, also known as Christian Martinez. Christian is our first educator on the platform, and the flow and connection is evident, to the point where the men are moved to share the back of their mas...

In this Podcast, Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by New York Times Bestselling author, Lewis Howes, author of the hit book, The School of Greatness and his newest book, The Mask of Masculinity . He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high-performance business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport All-American. He hosts a top 100 iTunes ranked Apple po...

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by former student and graduating high school senior, Clive Bryan Jr. (6:23) The conversation starts with Clive introducing himself, which prompts himself and Ashanti to reflect on the ups and downs of their relationship. (20:07) Next, Ashanti and Clive share the front of their masks, (21:17) then share and discuss the back of their masks. (31:30) Finall...