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

In this solo episode, Ashanti Branch tells the story of his encounter with the most popular girl in school… A story about emotions, class, wealth, status, bullying, family structures, and what we need to provide for our young people as educators. Then, he looks ahead at what’s in store for the Ever Forward Club in 2024.  --- (0:00) Ashanti introduces the episode and his story about the most popula...

Happy Holidays! Today is a re-release of episode 3, with Lewis Howes. Enjoy! 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...

“I knew that if I wanted to control the outcome before someone was about to make fun of me, or judge, or criticize; it was better for me to be the first one to make a joke about myself.” - Diego Estrada Happy Holidays! Today is a re-release of episode 143, with Diego Estrada. Enjoy! Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Diego Estrada. Born and raised in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mėxico, Die...

“It’s hard to be the last strong pillar in a breaking-down house. It’s really challenging. Sometimes you just have to understand that the house is breaking down. And it’s always okay to rebuild.” - Theo Coker-Edwards Happy Holidays! Today is a re-release of episode 162, with Theo Coker-Edwards. Enjoy! Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Theo Coker-Edwards. Theo is a college athlete bas...

In this solo episode, Ashanti Branch tells the story of the teacher who CHANGED HIS LIFE, Ms. BP. It’s the story of a magic sentence that unlocked everything for him and changed his trajectory. Then, he looks at how the podcast, the Ever Forward Club, and schools in general are approaching the end of the year. ---  (0:00) Ashanti provides some updates on the podcast going into 2024. (5:20) Ashanti...

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Lincoln. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host. You can get to know more about him in episode 123. Lincoln is a fellow student of Wenceslao’s at City Arts and Leadership Academy ➡️➡️➡️ As they share their masks, play our Adventure Card Game, and discuss all things poetry, friendship, and trust, it’s inspiring to imagine the fut...

“As much as people think I’m in my dad’s shadow, in many ways I live my life to NOT be like him. And even though my dad was a psychologist, I always felt like he wasn’t terribly emotional.” - Matt Englar-Carlson Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Dr. Matt Englar-Carlson. Matt is a professor of counseling and the director of the Center for Boys and Men at California State University, F...

“I’ve always been funny. As a kid I was funny. Always funny. But then ask me why I was funny, and the story’s not funny.” - Pellegrino Riccardi Happy Holidays! Today is a re-release of episode 133, with Pellegrino Riccardi. Enjoy! --- Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Pellegrino Riccardi. Raised in the UK in an archetypal Italian family, as a young adult Pellegrino balanced a career...

“Most youth say THE government. They don’t say OUR government. Or they say THE schools. They don’t say OUR school. Or they say THE house. They don’t feel connection. A lot of the autonomy from young people is being taken. The access is being suppressed. A lot of times youth are doing it without help and despite the system and despite the programs that be, because they had to do it on their own.” -...

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Mr. Craig Galvin. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host. You can get to know more about him in episode 123. Craig Galvin is an Algebra teacher at Wenceslao’s high school ➡️➡️➡️ Let’s just say this is a conversation between a teacher and a student that most people never get to experience. It’s so great seeing a student and a tea...

“I had a car crash where I was lucky to survive. My best friend was in the car, and we were very fortunate we didn’t die. It was a period where I was very off the rails and I was using alcohol to cope - a drunk driving incident where the whole car was crushed in half. It became the biggest news story in the country.” - Nick Bracks Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Nick Bracks. Growin...

“When I noticed that an educator had expectations for me or wanted me to succeed, or believed that I could succeed, I actually worked harder in those classes. For the educators and teachers who said, ‘I really care about you, I see your potential,’ those are the classes I actually worked hard in because I wanted to do it not just for me but for the educators themselves and those who believed in me...

“I’m really really anxious, like, off the charts anxious. In my head, it’s the Tasmanian Devil. It is spinning and spinning. If you’ve ever seen the cartoon, whenever he stops to say something it’s unintelligible. It’s just, ‘blah blah blah blah.’ And then he spins off. And that’s what it feels like in my head. But people don’t see that. They see this calm, confident, semi-put-together person on t...

“It’s hard to be the last strong pillar in a breaking-down house. It’s really challenging. Sometimes you just have to understand that the house is breaking down. And it’s always okay to rebuild.” - Theo Coker-Edwards Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Theo Coker-Edwards. Theo is a college athlete based in Albany, New York. And in Alameda, as a high schooler, he started and ran his own...

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Bilal. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host. You can get to know more about him in episode 123 . Bilal is a high school sophomore and has been a member of the Ever Forward Club for 3 years. As they share their masks; play our Adventure Card Game; and discuss life in high school, how they want to make the most of their lives, a...

“I was working so hard in service to my community; I hit burnout, had a massive breakdown. And I looked at myself in the mirror, and I was like, ‘Even though I’m aspiring so hard to be a positive role model and innovate and create change in my communities, I wouldn’t want anyone to be like me right now.’” - Jamin Heppell Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Jamin Heppell. Jamin is a fou...

“There’s times where it feels like I’m in my own bubble. And, as soon as I leave that bubble, I realize I’m still this very lost, immature kid in a lot of ways.” - Gael Aitor Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Gael Aitor. Gael is the creator and a host of the “Teenager Therapy” podcast - the largest teen mental health podcast, with over 1,000,000 followers. In this conversation, Gael...

“I often greet people with a smile, no matter how I’m feeling. I’ve always wanted folks to feel comfortable engaging with me. No matter how I feel I want them to feel comfortable, like I’m approachable.” - Rondy Isaac Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Rondy Isaac. Rondy is a father of two, the Wellness Program Director for Create The Space, and a Yoga Instructor, certified in Vinyasa...

“Now that I’m much older I realize, I was never really lonely. There was always people around me in my life - my family, my friends - that I could have reached out to and built a relationship with.” Jordan Barragan This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Wenceslao and Jordan Barragan. Wenceslao is the Ever Forward Club’s Youth Host. You can get to know more about him in episode 123 . Jordan...

Today is a special crossover episode, featuring The Contemplative Corazón podcast, with Julie Calderon! The episode you will hear today from The Contemplative Corazón, featuring Ashanti Branch, originally aired on June 11th, 2023 - episode 27: Holding Space for Healing. In it, they discuss Ashanti’s career journey and eventual calling to be a teacher, the story of the Ever Forward Club, how to set...

“I try to lie to myself that ‘I find stillness in activity .’ But actually I think I’m terrified of stillness. I’m terrified of sitting with me.” - Kip Ioane Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Kip Ioane. Kip is a former NCAA Head Basketball Coach of 14 years, who spent the last 10 years of his career crafting a framework of coaching designed to empower coaches to enlighten their playe...

“I’ve always been, quietly, a fearful kid growing up. And there’s always that fear in the background. It probably wasn’t until I was in college - fear was the only form of motivation that I knew.” - Gerry Sandusky Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Gerry Sandusky. Gerry is the voice of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, and he’s a broadcaster and communications coach. As Gerry puts it, “...

“I became trained to feel that I always need to be doing something. To get loved. To get respect. To be appreciated. When I look back, it wasn’t healthy. But it was the reality.” - Ashanti Branch In this solo episode of Taking Off The Mask, Ashanti Branch looks at the past, present, and future - of schools, of himself, and of the Ever Forward Club as it approaches its 20th anniversary. (0:00) Asha...

“Sometimes I just want someone to sit with me and say, ‘I know you’re scared.’ And I never had that when I was a kid, and I don’t have it now.” - Donovan Hall It’s our THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY episode and this conversation is a SPECIAL ONE! Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Donovan Hall. As a youth empowerment and development advocate, Donovan is currently speaking, coaching, creating...

“When I’m having a good time, I feel like my soul and my spirit are in the room. They’re both present and in the room. And if I’m not enjoying myself, then I feel like I’m disconnected from those bigger parts of myself.” - Ken Mossman Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Ken Mossman. An executive and leadership coach who’s specialized in working with men for two decades, Ken has an inte...