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

Ashanti sits down with Bishop Foreman for an honest and powerful conversation about leadership, education, and the masks we wear. This episode explores what it means to lead while carrying pain, why consistency can become overcommitment, and how childhood experiences often shape the way adults show up as educators, mentors, and leaders. Bishop Foreman also shares why the best teachers do more than deliver information. They help students think, connect, and transform. If you are an educator, school leader, mentor, coach, or anyone who works with young people, this conversation offers both reflection and practical insight. In this episode: The masks Ashanti and Bishop Foreman wear in public and what they carry underneath The connection between childhood instability and adult leadership patterns Why authenticity matters in teaching and leadership How to move from information delivery to transformational teaching Why educators should focus on the takeaway, not just the lesson How engagement, humor, and interaction help students learn Why students need adults who can connect before they can truly teach Timestamps: 00:06 Welcome and opening reflections 00:14 Meet Bishop Foreman 00:30 Bishop Foreman on leadership, impact, and honoring educators 01:21 His early love of teaching and starting a business at age 12 03:47 Ashanti on entrepreneurship, schools, and setting up the mask activity 05:32 Ashanti shares his mask 08:32 Bishop Foreman shares his mask 13:39 Consistency, leadership, and knowing when to let something go 15:34 Childhood responsibility, protecting others, and emotional attachment in leadership 19:44 Ashanti connects with the role of protector in his own story 20:40 Working with adults, youth, and communicating across audiences 22:56 Speaking with energy and connecting beyond information 24:37 Youth attention spans and the challenge to make learning worth their time 26:46 Moving from reacting to students toward building growth-centered structures 28:45 Starting with the end in mind and teaching for transformation 30:02 Why many educated people are not taught to think critically 31:14 Social media, swipe culture, and shrinking attention spans 32:38 Teaching critical thinking instead of just content 33:14 The educators Bishop Foreman still remembers and why they mattered 36:36 How to connect with Bishop Foreman 39:32 Closing invitation to share your mask anonymously Resources & Links Mentioned bishopforeman.com Text “BISHOP” to 55498 for discounts on books, coaching, and resources Connect with Bishop Foreman Website: bishopforeman.com  Social media: @BishopForeman Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas, Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #EmotionalSafety #MaleEducators #AuthenticLeadership #EducatorWellbeing #BehindTheMask

In this conversation, Ashanti sits down with Alexander Kopelman, founding president and CEO of the Children’s Arts Guild, to explore authenticity, identity, creativity, and what it means to help children thrive as whole human beings. Together, they reflect on the masks adults wear, the stories we carry from childhood, and how our own fears, wounds, and expectations can shape the way we show up for young people. Alexander shares his journey as a refugee from the Soviet Union, the origins of the Children’s Arts Guild, and the heart behind his book, For Real: Helping Children Remain Their Authentic Selves in a Limiting World. How identity gets shaped by what others assume about us Why creativity can open doors to honesty, vulnerability, and emotional safety How the Children’s Arts Guild began through work with boys and creative expression A powerful moment from a kickball game that opened a conversation about crying and grief Why adults in a child’s ecosystem matter just as much as the child-focused program itself Why children need to be allowed to fully be the age they are How post-pandemic expectations may still be out of step with where children really are 00:02 Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators 00:35 Meet Alexander Kopelman 01:41 Alexander introduces the Children’s Arts Guild and For Real 02:09 Coming to the U.S. as a refugee and rebuilding identity 03:13 Assumptions, religion, and being seen from the outside 05:25 Choice, identity, and the masks we wear 14:39 Creative mortification and the fear of drawing 17:34 How Alexander’s work with boys and adults began 21:25 Kickball, crying, and the moment things shifted 23:15 Why working with adults became essential 25:09 Authenticity as a framework for educators and parents 27:12 What games can reveal about fairness, emotion, and behavior 29:17 Why adults need inner work and practice too 31:45 Men’s work, circles, and learning to trust the process 35:31 Realizing there were no men in his life 37:04 New Warrior training and recognizing inner voices 40:20 Parenting, anxiety, and reacting from fear 41:35 What For Real offers adults 43:34 Letting children be the age they are 44:19 Post-pandemic development and shifting expectations 46:41 A final reminder for parents and educators 47:28 How to connect with Alexander 48:34 Closing invitation Resources & Links Mentioned Children’s Arts Guild For Real: Helping Children Remain Their Authentic Selves in a Limiting World Authenticity Works — Alexander’s website millionmask.org — share your mask anonymously Mankind Project Girls Inc. Connect with Alexander Kopelman Website: authenticityworks.org Book website: forrealbook.org Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas, Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #AlexanderKopelman #Authenticity #CreativeExpression #EmotionalSafety #WholeChild #MaleEducators #Parenting #ChildDevelopment #Healing

In this thoughtful and timely conversation, Ashanti sits down with educator, facilitator, and author Jason Biehl to explore masculinity, whiteness, emotional honesty, and what it means to nurture healthy belonging for boys and men. Together, they reflect on the fears, grief, and uncertainty many young people are carrying right now, and why adults must be willing to face discomfort, tell the truth, and model courage in order to create more emotionally safe communities. Jason also shares about his upcoming four-part graphic memoir series, Unicorns: A Memoir for Young White Men, beginning with On White Discomfort, and explains why this work matters so deeply in this moment. In This Episode, We Talk About: What Ashanti and Jason are carrying on the front and back of their masks Why hope, honesty, and vulnerability are essential in hard times The fears young people are holding about safety, identity, and the future How masculinity, whiteness, and patriarchy shape belonging and disconnection Why discomfort can be a necessary part of learning, growth, and healing The importance of creating spaces where boys and young men can tell the truth Jason’s new graphic memoir series, Unicorns, for young white men Why adults and educators must stop waiting for crisis before doing proactive work Timestamps: 00:00 Discomfort, healing, and growth 00:34 Episode preview 01:25 Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators 02:02 Meet Jason Beale 04:26 Working with white men, boys, and belonging 06:52 Ashanti shares his mask 09:41 Jason shares his mask 12:24 “Hope is a discipline” 14:35 Fear, silence, and speaking up 16:28 Why more men need skin in the game 17:03 Bullying, fear, and self-silencing 19:08 Social media vs real courage 21:09 What young people are carrying right now 23:33 What gives Jason hope 26:00 The need for healthier role models 28:25 Why white discomfort matters 30:49 Othering, privilege, and race 33:15 Tulsa, erased history, and truth 38:09 Algorithms and echo chambers 40:30 Why schools wait for crisis 42:54 Boys, patriarchy, and accountability 45:16 Jason’s Unicorns book series 46:19 Closing invitation Resources & Links Mentioned Change the Narrative — Jason’s website Unicorns: A Memoir for Young White Men Nurturing Healthy Belonging series for young men and boys millionmask.org — share your mask anonymously Talk to Your Boys by Christopher Pepper and Joanna Schroeder Connect with Jason Biehl Website: changethenarrative.me Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas, Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #UnMASKingWithMaleEducators #JasonBeale #MaleEducators #HealthyMasculinity #Belonging #EmotionalSafety #AntiRacism #SocialJusticeEducation #YoungMen #VulnerabilityIsStrength

What does it cost to always be seen as the strong one? In this conversation, Curtis Valentine, founder of Real Men Teach and founder in residence with the American Institute for Boys and Men, joins Ashanti to talk about what it takes to recruit, support, and retain men of color in education. They explore the stereotype that men of color should always be the strong ones, how Real Men Teach grew from a local school board effort into a national movement, why male educators leave classrooms, and what schools can do to create the kind of support that helps them stay. Listen and apply these takeaways to your life and leadership: Strong friends still need help. The expectation that men of color should always carry pressure quietly can make support harder to ask for and harder to receive. Representation matters, but recruitment is only the beginning. If schools want men of color to stay, they need real community, care, and systems of support. Movements can start with something simple. Real Men Teach began as a local effort and grew through outreach, relationships, and shared purpose. Men don’t just leave classrooms because they stop caring. They leave when the conditions around them make it difficult to sustain the work. School change takes partnership. This episode is a reminder that improving schools requires people to bring their ideas, their networks, and their willingness to build with others. Everyone can do a little bit. Whether it’s joining a movement, supporting educators, or collaborating with mission-driven organizations, meaningful change grows through collective action. 00:48 Welcome to Unmasking with Male Educators 02:25 Meet Curtis Valentine 03:17 Curtis’ background + the mission behind Real Men Teach 07:17 How Real Men Teach started: 100 texts, 100 yeses 11:51 The “strong friend” mask and why support still matters 13:02 Why male educators need to model honesty 15:36 The mask question: what students see vs. what they do not 16:50 Curtis on confidence, preparation, and insecurity in teaching 20:19 A story from teaching abroad: learning while leading 24:11 Why great educators stay open to learning from students 27:34 Why more men do not enter or stay in teaching 33:25 Curtis’ classroom story: underprepared, unsupported, and thrown in 35:50 The real barriers facing men of color in education 38:13 Men need purpose, accountability, and clear roles 41:06 Letting male educators teach in authentic ways 43:09 Why boys learn differently and schools need to respond 45:47 The cost of being “the exception” 47:49 How to support Curtis and Real Men Teach 49:06 Closing reflections and outro Connect with Curtis Valentine Real Men TeachAmerican Institute for Boys and MenJoin/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas, Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #MaleEducators #RealMenTeach #CurtisValentine #MenInEducation #BlackMaleEducators

What if the way through stress isn’t to push harder, but to learn how to come back to yourself? In this conversation, Shalin Desai, engineer, Art of Living Foundation leader, and breathwork teacher, shares how being introduced to these practices at 16 changed the direction of his life. Ashanti and Shalin talk about the masks men wear, the fear of failure, the calm we can carry behind the mask, and why breath is one of the most practical tools we have for working with stress and emotion. They also explore skepticism around contemplative practices, the difference between hearing “be present” and actually knowing how. Listen and apply these takeaways to your life and leadership: The mask of competence can hide a real fear of failure, pressure, and self-judgment, and naming that matters. Calm is not the absence of responsibility; it’s the ability to carry life without letting stress become your identity. The real question isn’t just “be present,” it’s “how?” Shalin points to breath as a direct tool for working with emotional patterns. Breath and emotion are connected: when the breath changes, your internal state can change too. This work becomes real when it restores purpose. Shalin shares a story about a participant who arrived hopeless and left wanting to live. Skepticism doesn’t disqualify anyone. People from many backgrounds can benefit without giving up who they are. (0:00) Meet Shalin Desai + how Art of Living became part of his life (2:54) Shalin’s origin story: his mother’s healing, finding the course at 16, and discovering breathwork early (8:57) Ashanti’s own Art of Living journey + wondering what shifts when young people learn peace sooner (10:19) The masks we wear: competence, fear of failure, calm, irritation, and ending the day without regret (13:50) “That sounds good, but how?” bringing spiritual ideas into real-life stress (15:21) The connection between breath and emotions + why breathwork is practical, not abstract (17:42) A participant’s suicide note story + what happens when someone reconnects to purpose (20:20) Skepticism, openness, and why people are more ready now to try meditation and breathwork (22:37) Research, results, and why this work keeps spreading (26:50) Types of Art of Living courses + why the practice has to continue beyond one experience (32:07) Emotional overload, algorithms, polarization, and making impact from calm instead of frustration Connect with Shalin Desai Website: artofliving.org Instagram: @shalindesai Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #breathwork #artofliving #emotionalwellness #mensmentalhealth #meditation #wellnessineducation #selfawareness #healingjourney #podcast

Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators. In this episode, Ashanti shares a deeply personal update on his health and wellness journey, reflecting on what it has meant to continue detoxing, stay committed to a plant-based lifestyle, and push through both physical and emotional barriers along the way. But this conversation goes beyond the scale. Ashanti connects his fight for health to the realities of being an educator, the sacrifices so many teachers make, and the urgency of creating safer, more responsive spaces for young people in our schools. From chronic pain and food addiction to advocating for students and supporting educators, this episode is a powerful reminder that healing, wellness, and school transformation are all connected. As UnMASKing with Male Educators continues to explore what it means to show up fully for ourselves and our students, this episode invites you to reflect on your own journey, your own wellness, and the ways we can all do better for young people. (0:00) 2026 update and a recap of the detox journey so far (2:20) The emotional battle of hovering near 300 pounds (4:48) Breaking below 300 for the first time in years (6:30) Chronic pain, health, and fighting for your life (7:20) January detox results and total weight released since September (9:40) Learning which foods fuel wellness and which ones don’t (10:50) The sacrifices educators make in service of others (12:10) Supporting young people when schools miss the signs (14:36) Why educators must pay closer attention to what’s happening in their classrooms (16:59) Starting school transformation one classroom at a time (19:22) Bay Area teacher strikes and what they reveal about educator value (21:45) A visual update on the journey and an invitation to join the Million Mask Movement Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

One social worker. One campus. A hundred invisible fires. In this conversation, Justin Martinez, a Bay Area high school school social worker, assistant baseball coach, and facilitator of a young men’s group called “Are You Man Enough?”, breaks down what it really takes to support students with high needs without losing yourself in the process. Justin shares how his own story (foster care, domestic violence, and becoming a first-gen graduate) shaped his purpose, what he keeps behind the “leader” mask, and why the hardest lesson for helpers is also the most freeing: you can’t save anyone… but you can hand them the keys. Listen and apply these takeaways to your school: The “crown” mask: what it looks like to be the steady leader at school, mentor, role model, coach, while carrying grief and pressure underneathCountertransference in real life: how to notice when a student’s story hits your own… and not let it bleed into the relationshipTwo lenses, one campus: why wellness teams and disciplinary systems clash, and how students pay the price when adults aren’t aligned“I can’t save anyone” isn’t cold, it’s a boundary: how over-functioning creates burnout (and attaches your worth to outcomes you can’t control)The keys metaphor: “I can walk you to the door and hand you the keys… but you have to open it.”What school social workers actually do: wellness check-ins, crisis triage, re-regulation spaces, risk assessments, referrals, and constant problem-solvingAccountability with care: holding young men to a higher standard without talking down to themReal strength includes rest: the crown is heavy… and strong men still take it off (0:00) Class in session + meet Justin Martinez (2:38) Justin’s story: foster care due to domestic violence + becoming a first-gen grad to return and be what he needed (10:10) Behind Justin’s mask: grief, countertransference, walking on eggshells, inequity, targeted students, and “I can’t save anyone” (15:10) “I can’t save anyone” + the keys/door framework (resources, boundaries, and surrendering outcomes) (20:50) Learning the boundary the hard way: wanting to “fix” a family’s crisis and hitting system limits (27:31) A day in school social work: QR code referrals, wellness check-ins, re-regulation room, crisis calls, risk assessments (33:14) Biggest challenge: collaborating with staff when lenses don’t match—and harmful narratives about students persist (36:10) Why schools need more men in wellness roles: impact, mentorship, emotional modeling (38:57) What young men are facing: accountability, consequences, pressure, and future-focus conversations (43:35) Closing question: “How heavy is that crown?” + grief, family weight, and learning when to take it off Connect with Justin Martinez Instagram: @just_in_tiime_ Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #schoolsocialwork #studentwellness #teacherretention #mentorship #mensmentalhealth #emotionalwellness #restisstrength #youthadvocacy

Three Black male educators. Three generations of impact. One powerful through-line: belief. In this conversation, Jacob (Cory Gold), Dr. Willie Williams, and Reginald Williams unpack what it means to teach while carrying a mask, showing strength, joy, fairness, and love… while holding grief, pressure, mental health, and the realities of being a young Black man in a profession where you’re often the only one. You’ll hear how mentorship travels: teacher → student → teacher → the next student… and how small moments in schools become lifelong turning points. Listen and apply these takeaways to your school: Belief as a daily practice: what it looks like to “clock in” for kids like a coach—showing up early, present, and intentionalFairness vs. equality: how “being strict but understanding” builds trust (and why students can smell a facade)The mask exercise (front + back): what educators show the world vs. what we carry behind the smileWhy teaching is still a “dangerous” profession for Black folks: the weight of history, politics, and protecting students without drowning themPlanting seeds that go home: phrases, routines, and presence that outlive the classroom and come back 15 years later (0:00) Class in session + meet Jacob “Cory Gold,” Dr. Willie Williams, and Reginald Williams (1:30) Jacob introduces himself: “walking in the light” as a spiritual being inside school buildings (2:10) Dr. Willie: meeting Jacob as a high school student who needed someone to slow him down (4:10) Reginald: why he became a teacher, representation, trust, and seeing leadership up close (6:45) Mask exercise explained: 3 words on the front, 3 on the back (7:25) Reginald’s mask: fairness/justice, passion, strict-but-understanding + joy, intention, hiding the lows (10:30) Jacob’s mask: joy, intention, light, love + poverty background, hunger check-ins, leading with questions (15:10) Dr. Willie’s mask: God, love, strength + protecting students politically, mental health, and dating as a Black male educator (22:00) Ashanti’s mask: caring/serious/passionate + worry, self-doubt, family weight (26:40) The big question: “How does belief in your students show up every day?” (31:05) Reginald: the “lightbulb moment” and why students want their teacher back after a sub (33:10) Jacob reflects on impact: gratitude for seeing the “increase” across generations (41:00) Reginald on planting seeds: being uniquely yourself, meeting students where they are (44:45) Willie: teaching as “dangerous” historically + the need for community among Black male educators (50:15) Dr. Willie: more eye-level conversations + Book #18: The Black Male Resiliency Experience Connect with the Guests Dr. Willie Williams Book: The Black Male Resiliency Experience Company: Accepted Admissions (educational consulting) Jacob (Cory Gold) Shares “All Things Light” content (YouTube/Instagram) Reginald Williams Educator (Year 3) + community builder through clubs/activities/coaching energy Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm

This episode is a masterclass in what it really costs to be a Black man in education and what it takes to build something better. Sharif El-Mekki (Center for Black Educator Development) breaks down the “trifecta” that grinds educators down, why many recruitment efforts are ill-informed and unserious, and how a student-led rallying cry became a national pipeline movement: #WeNeedBlackTeachers. Listen and apply these takeaways to your school tomorrow: Why “work twice as hard to get half as far” can become a trap and where the pressure should go (the system, not the child) The educator “mask” that looks like strength…but is really stoicism, compartmentalization, and survival What changes when you stop separating your lived experience from your teaching: students become more demanding (and that’s a good thing) “Raised Woke” and the power of student agency: when young people start making real demands, like meeting real Panthers The Black educator pipeline problem, the leaky retention reality, and why retention is the strongest recruitment strategy The 3Ps framework: Policy & Advocacy, Professional Development, Pathways—and what it looks like in real schools The mental health toll on Black male educators: experiencing bias as a kid, as a professional, and deciding whether to protect kids in the same system (0:00) Class in session + meet Sharif El-Mekki(1:15) Philly Seventh Ward + why Du Bois still matters (2:35) “Stop telling Black boys they need to be twice as good” + the John Henry warning (6:05) The mask question: what we show vs. what we carry (9:35) Ashanti’s mask: purpose on the front, fear + political anger behind it (12:10) Sharif’s mask: love for community on the front, stoicism + withholding his story behind it (19:55) What students do when you bring your full self: “Raised Woke,” demands, and agency(24:20) Center for Black Educator Development + rebuilding a national Black teacher pipeline (26:05) The 3Ps: policy/advocacy, professional learning, pathways (27:10) The high school pathway: teaching as CTE + Black pedagogical framework (33:15) The convening: not a conference—work, community, action (9th annual this fall) (39:35) Men’s mental health + the “trifecta” that grinds Black educators down (41:55) Retention playbook + why anti-racist ecosystems retain educators (45:30) Where to follow + how to get registration updates: #WeNeedBlackTeachers (46:20) Show your mask anonymously + closing (47:10) The intergenerational power: high school + college + veteran educators in the same room Connect with Sharif El-Mekki / Center for Black Educator Development We Need Black Teachers (updates + newsletter): weneedblackteachers.org Hashtag: #WeNeedBlackTeachers Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #takingoffthemask #millionmaskmovement #weneedblackteachers #blackmaleteachers #blackeducators #teacherretention #educationleadership #emotionalwellness

This is the story of two educators who never planned to become educators, and ended up building an edtech nonprofit that’s served 50+ schools in Puerto Rico. Robby Cobbs and Kyle Sumrow break down the “international teaching cheat code,” the masks they wear as leaders, and how they turned frustration into a system that helps schools build real tech plans (not PDFs that die in a Google Drive). Listen and apply these takeaways to your school tomorrow: Why “dignity” matters more than “respect”, and how that mindset changes your classroom and your leadershipFairness vs. equality (the glasses example) + why “kindness all the time” isn’t soft, it’s strategicThe power of community when you’re far from home: international schools, brotherhood, and what “family” can mean when it’s built (not forced)How TechMySchool was born in Puerto Rico, no libraries, not enough books, and one question that sparked a movement(0:00) Class in session + meet Robby Cobbs and Kyle Sumrow (0:30) Robby’s origin story: from “no teacher dreams” to finding home in schools (5:30) Teaching in inner-city schools + the travel bug that changed everything (7:00) International teaching explained (housing, flights, medical, taxes) (13:35) Kyle’s journey: music school → bus driver → subbing → “this is what I want to do” (18:50) Teaching as the ultimate learning hack (bio → CS → film → audio → auto) (30:10) “Family” in international schools—when community builds itself (35:40) The “mask” exercise: what you show vs. what you carry as a leader (38:00) Kyle’s mask: dignity, fairness, growth and the unseen leadership habits (41:30) Robby’s mask: confident leader, service, empathy and the hidden frustration behind nonprofit work (52:20) TechMySchool origin story: Puerto Rico schools, no libraries, and scaling from 1 school to 50+ (55:15) “Week Without Walls” + bringing students to other places for perspective shifts (1:09:50) How to support + the Caribbean edtech conference (April 10–11) (1:11:10) TechPlanGenie: AI-powered tech planning + accountability + end-of-year report Connect with Robby Cobbs + Kyle Sumrow / TechMySchool: Website: techmyschool.org Instagram/Facebook: Tech My School Caribbean EdTech Conference: April 10–11 Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace

In this episode, Ashanti Branch shares what he’s been witnessing in schools and in the broader social climate surrounding ICE, Alex Pretti, and how it shows up in students’ bodies, behavior, and sense of safety. He opens with a lunch conversation with a group of young men who name the pressures they feel: expectations, relationships, emotions, and not always having someone they trust when they’re struggling. From there, Ashanti expands into a bigger message for educators and communities: when young people (and adults) don’t have a safe way to release what they’re carrying, they can end up walking around like “emotional landmines”, until one moment sets everything off. Don’t wait for a crisis to make emotional well-being a priority. Ask students how they’re doing, build spaces for honest conversation, and use mask-making as a practical tool for connection and healing. A lunch conversation with young men: pressure, relationships, emotions, and trust“Emotional landmines” and what happens when people store it all upMasculinity, power, and what violence can look like when manhood feels threatenedStories that show the impact of fear and rhetoric on young peopleWhy silence (and “staying in our lane”) isn’t a protection planA direct invitation to educators: be proactive, not reactiveHow mask-making can open honest conversations in your school/community(0:00) Welcome + why Ashanti is speaking directly in this solo reflection (2:18) Lunch with young men: emotions, expectations, trust, and vulnerability (4:10) Naming “emotional landmines” and feeling the pressure personally (5:51) Early life reflections + how we learn to see the world clearly (7:54) A quote that frames masculinity, power, and the threat of equality (12:08) A young person’s testimony: “How can I focus on school when I’m worried about my family?” (16:06) “What are we willing to do to protect what we say we believe?” (18:57) A story about a 10-year-old boy and the ripple effects of fear and threats (21:41) Why people “store it up” until one moment becomes an explosion (22:02) Protests, speaking out, and finding your lane for action (26:59) A direct ask for educators: don’t wait for crisis—create emotional support now (29:21) Invitation: make a mask, invite others, and build connection before the “boom” Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode Ideas Email us: [email protected] Create your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/ Connect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #diaryofaconfusededucator #emotionalsafety #emotionallandmines #maskmaking #everforwardclub

What happens when “being professional” quietly turns into “being unseen”? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Mark Anthony Neal, Black Studies scholar, writer, and professor at Duke University, joins Ashanti for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about masks we wear in education, what students have lost (and gained) in the post-pandemic classroom, and why freedom with language can be a pathway to belonging. In this episode, they cover: Growing up working class in the South Bronx: a father who wasn’t verbal, but spoke through Sunday breakfast, gospel, and the Mets “Stoicism as a mask”: how Black men learn to control emotion by pretending they don’t have any Why aging (and experience) shifted Dr. Neal’s teaching: from gravitas and control → toward visible humanity and frailty The hidden cost of the attacks on Black Studies: not always bans—sometimes student fear and “natural attrition” Building the classroom as a vernacular space: language as freedom, not a barrier to participation Imposter syndrome and “talking right”: how fear of sounding smart silences students before they ever start “Students are like iPhone updates”: why educators have to recalibrate pedagogy every few years Post-pandemic social gaps: why mentoring feels harder for students who didn’t practice relationships outside their homes Save a Seat for Me: a love letter to Black fathers—and a new language for how Black men show up emotionally (0:01) Welcome + Dr. Mark Anthony Neal introduces himself (South Bronx roots, working-class parents, path from high school teaching to the academy) (1:45) Music as love language: Sunday breakfast, gospel, jazz/blues, and baseball as father-son connection (4:03) Upcoming book: Save a Seat for Me and why Black fatherhood is inseparable from American fatherhood (5:46) The “mask” framework: what we show vs. what we protect as educators (9:05) “Stoicism as control”: why many Black men learn to hide interiority (especially anger) (18:22) Teaching style shift: from “professorial gravitas” → toward conversational, accessible learning (20:24) Language & belonging: making the classroom a vernacular space (and why code-switching isn’t the classroom goal) (27:57) Representation reality: brilliant Black women teachers early on—but no Black male teacher until Dr. Neal became one (32:16) “Higher expectations”: why lowering the bar is one of the most common ways schools fail Black students (54:31) Closing invitation: share your mask anonymously at Million Mask Movement Connect with Dr. Mark Anthony Neal Book: Save a Seat for Me (Simon & Schuster) — publishing August 4, 2026Pre-order: Amazon, Simon & Schuster, and (hopefully) independent Black bookstoresInstagram: @BookerBBBrownTwitter: @NewBlackManResources & Ways to Engage The Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.orgEducator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your schoolGlobal Young Men’s Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spacesEver Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorshipConnect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Connect with Ever Forward Club Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub⁠Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub⁠Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/everforwardclub⁠LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/⁠Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #BlackStudies #BlackMaleEducators #BlackFatherhood #Masculinity #EmotionalSafety #HigherEd #TeacherLife #StudentBelonging #Mentorship #CodeSwitching #AIInEducation #ShowYourWork

What if the breakthrough for Black boys and men in education isn’t more pressure… but more belonging? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Calvin J. Hadley, Assistant Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Partnerships at Howard University, joins Ashanti for a real conversation about what’s happening to Black male enrollment, why emotional safety has to come before performance, and what it looks like to build a community where men don’t have to “hold it down” alone. In this episode, they cover: Why Black men often aren’t given the tools to understand, and move through their emotions (and how that shows up as a “mask”) “Mirror-cleaning” work: what young Black men see when they look at themselves and how to blow limitations off the hinges Emotional intelligence as a muscle many men never got to exercise (and why naming weakness matters) The Men of the Mecca faculty/staff check-ins: “45 minutes of real check-ins”… and why grown men end up crying Health avoidance, cultural fear, and why “put your oxygen mask on first” isn’t a cliché it’s leadership “Emotion overrides intellect”: why we can know what to do—and still not do it The crisis of Black male presence in higher ed (Howard’s context + HBCU averages) Belonging, rites of passage, and the “Burning of Fear” ceremony, writing fears down and burning them together “Look to your left and right…”: brotherhood as responsibility, not just connection Timestamps (0:01) Intro: who Dr. Hadley is + what this episode tackles (enrollment, emotional barriers, belonging, masks) (0:01) Welcome + Dr. Hadley introduces himself (son of Harold & Ernestine, two-time Howard grad, father/husband, Assistant Provost role) (10:33) Dr. Hadley: Men of the Mecca language—“taking off the mask” + not being taught emotional tools (12:30) “Mirror cleaning” + the “N-word mask” and how limitations get internalized (16:11) Emotional honesty: “I’m fairly emotional… I start crying on podcast” + “intellectual juggernaut / emotional first-grader” (24:40) Men of the Mecca: student support → faculty/staff arm → a space to check in for real (26:12) Annual physical moment: a room full of high-achieving Black men hanging their heads—health avoidance and cultural fear (27:45) “Put your oxygen mask on first”: why educator wellness is student success work (29:35) “Emotion overrides intellect”: you can’t teach, lead, or heal past what hasn’t been felt (41:13) Rites of passage + “Burning of Fear”: write fears down, burn them, and build responsibility through brotherhood (57:47) How to connect/partner + Dr. Hadley shares his email; closing invitation to make a mask anonymously Connect with Dr. Calvin J. Hadley Email (partnerships / school districts / collaboration): [email protected] University work: Men of the Mecca (student + faculty/staff community-building)Resources & Ways to Engage The Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.orgEducator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your schoolGlobal Young Men’s Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spacesEver Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorshipConnect with Ashanti Branch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ Connect with Ever Forward Club: Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub⁠Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub⁠Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/everforwardclub⁠LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/⁠Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #BlackMaleEducators #BlackBoys #BlackMenHealing #EmotionalSafety #StudentSuccess #HigherEd #HBCU #Mentorship #Belonging #MensWellness #TraumaInformedEducation

What if the leadership move you need most right now isn’t to push harder… but to pause? In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ayodele Harrison, educator, facilitator, and founder of Black Male Educators Talk (BMEsTalk) joins host Ashanti Branch for a real, layered conversation about the masks Black men learn to wear in schools, in leadership, and in life. Ayodele shares how BMEsTalk is building a leadership ecosystem rooted in brotherhood, wellness, and nonjudgmental connection, because too many men are expected to “hold it down” while quietly running on empty. In this episode, they cover: The mask of the leader: extroversion on the outside, overthinking and introversion on the insideWhy Black men are conditioned to tie worth to usefulness, output, and performance“You’re worth the pause”: making the case for wellness when the ROI isn’t immediateHow to start men’s healing spaces without forcing vulnerability too fast (tables first, circle later)Why “safe” isn’t always the right word—and what a brave space invites insteadWhite supremacy as a system designed to disconnect—and what it does to relationships and identityThe power & privilege wheel: understanding marginalization and proximity to powerHow Black male privilege shows up (and why naming it can change how we show up for Black women)The “Dear Black Man” grounding practice that opens every BMEsTalk engagement (0:00) Welcome + Ashanti’s self-doubt moment (even saying the guest’s name) (0:35) Ayodele’s story: Seattle roots, Howard alum, engineering → education (1:27) What BMEsTalk is building: brotherhood, wellness, leadership ecosystem (15:16) Public vs. private schooling—and how certain environments can stunt growth (17:03) Ayodele’s “back of the mask”: creative, faith, introversion + expectations to lead (23:01) The performance trap: “being human is not enough” + the pressure to earn love (25:07) The “Dear Black Man” letter + pausing to reset expectations in the room (31:27) “You’re worth the pause”: why men struggle to believe wellness has ROI (41:36) Designing for men’s nervous systems: why circles can be too much too soon (44:15) When wellness gets weaponized: going “deep” without time to close the box (51:56) Wielding privilege to protect, provide, and stand with Black women (53:43) Why this needs a Part 2 (and what young men need from these conversations) (54:20) Where to find Ayodele + BMEsTalk (55:05) The Affirmation Crown: building something wearable that speaks life into you (55:35) Share your mask anonymously + invite a friend into the reflection Connect with Ayodele Harrison Ayodele on LinkedIn (search: “Ayodele Harrison”) BMEsTalk (Black Male Educators Talk): national convener building leadership, culture, and community for Black educators. Affirmation Crown (hands-on reflection experience). Resources & Ways to Engage The Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.orgEducator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your schoolGlobal Young Men’s Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spacesEver Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorshipConnect 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/ Connect with Ever Forward Club: Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub⁠Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub⁠Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/everforwardclub⁠LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/⁠ Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Club https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #BlackMaleEducators #BMEsTalk #BlackMenHealing #BraveSpaces #EmotionalWellness #SchoolLeadership #SEL

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 How bullying and old wounds show up as hesitation, second-guessing, and “playing small” in adulthoodWhat it means to live the advice you give young people (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 The Million Mask Movement – Create a mask anonymously: https://millionmask.orgEducator Portal – Bring mask-making and emotional data into your schoolGlobal Young Men’s Conference – Youth voice, belonging, and healing spacesEver Forward Club – Brotherhood, connection, and mentorshipConnect 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 #MaleEducators #EmotionalSafety #SchoolCulture #Mentorship #StudentWellbeing #EducationLeadership #DrStevePerry #EverForwardClub