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

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 offConnect with Justin MartinezInstagram: @just_in_tiime_Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.orgJoin our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode IdeasEmail us: totmpod100@gmail.comCreate your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/Connect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksX: https://x.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward ClubHelp us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/supportConnect with Ever Forward ClubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubX: https://x.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: 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 ExperienceConnect with the GuestsDr. Willie WilliamsBook: The Black Male Resiliency ExperienceCompany: Accepted Admissions (educational consulting)Jacob (Cory Gold)Shares “All Things Light” content (YouTube/Instagram)Reginald WilliamsEducator (Year 3) + community builder through clubs/activities/coaching energyJoin/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.orgJoin our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode IdeasEmail us: totmpod100@gmail.comCreate your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/Connect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksX: https://x.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward ClubHelp us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/supportConnect with Ever Forward ClubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubX: https://x.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: 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 survivalWhat 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 PanthersThe Black educator pipeline problem, the leaky retention reality, and why retention is the strongest recruitment strategyThe 3Ps framework: Policy & Advocacy, Professional Development, Pathways—and what it looks like in real schoolsThe 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 roomConnect with Sharif El-Mekki / Center for Black Educator DevelopmentWe Need Black Teachers (updates + newsletter): weneedblackteachers.orgHashtag: #WeNeedBlackTeachersJoin/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.orgJoin our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode IdeasEmail us: totmpod100@gmail.comCreate your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/Connect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksX: https://x.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward ClubHelp us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/supportConnect with Ever Forward ClubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubX: https://x.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: 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 reportConnect with Robby Cobbs + Kyle Sumrow / TechMySchool:Website: techmyschool.orgInstagram/Facebook: Tech My SchoolCaribbean EdTech Conference: April 10–11Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.orgJoin our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode IdeasEmail us: totmpod100@gmail.comCreate your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/Connect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksX: https://x.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward ClubHelp us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/supportConnect with Ever Forward ClubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubX: https://x.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: 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.orgJoin our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode IdeasEmail us: totmpod100@gmail.comCreate your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/Connect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksX: https://x.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward ClubHelp us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/supportConnect with Ever Forward ClubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubX: https://x.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: 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 anyWhy aging (and experience) shifted Dr. Neal’s teaching: from gravitas and control → toward visible humanity and frailtyThe 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 participationImposter 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 yearsPost-pandemic social gaps: why mentoring feels harder for students who didn’t practice relationships outside their homesSave 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 MovementConnect with Dr. Mark Anthony NealBook: Save a Seat for Me (Simon & Schuster) — publishing August 4, 2026Pre-order: Amazon, Simon & Schuster, and (hopefully) independent Black bookstoresInstagram: @BookerBBBrownTwitter: @NewBlackManResources & Ways to EngageThe 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 BranchInstagram: 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 ClubInstagram:⁠ 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 Clubhttps://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 hingesEmotional 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 cryingHealth 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 itThe 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 connectionTimestamps(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 anonymouslyConnect with Dr. Calvin J. HadleyEmail (partnerships / school districts / collaboration): calvin.hadley@howard.eduHoward University work: Men of the Mecca (student + faculty/staff community-building)Resources & Ways to EngageThe 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 BranchInstagram: 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 Clubhttps://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 reflectionConnect with Ayodele HarrisonAyodele 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 EngageThe 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 BranchInstagram: 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 Clubhttps://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 fearThe difference between the people you care about and the people you’re trying to impressHow 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 withWho 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 EngageThe 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 BranchInstagram: 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/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Clubhttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support#UnmaskingWithMaleEducators #MillionMaskMovement #MaleEducators #EmotionalSafety #SchoolCulture #Mentorship #StudentWellbeing #EducationLeadership #DrStevePerry #EverForwardClub

What if the students who say they’re “good” are the ones we need to check on the most?In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti Branch pulls back the curtain on what young men are actually carrying beneath the surface, using real words, real data, and real stories from the Global Young Men’s Conference and the Million Mask Movement.Drawing from over two decades of work with young men, Ashanti walks listeners through powerful mask reflections created by students across the Bay Area. These masks reveal a striking disconnect between what young men show the world, happy, funny, kind, and what they hide, sadness, anger, exhaustion, loneliness, fear. Through stories, statistics, and lived experience, Ashanti challenges educators, parents, and systems to stop mistaking compliance for wellness and silence for safety.This episode is both a wake-up call and an invitation: to slow down, ask better questions, create emotionally safer spaces, and truly mean it when we ask, “How are you doing?”Why “I’m good” is often a mask, not the truthWhat young men’s masks reveal about loneliness, sadness, and emotional overloadThe dangerous gap between how students appear and how they actually feelWhy emotional safety is foundational to attendance, behavior, and academic successHow fear, violence, and instability shape students’ ability to show up to schoolThe hidden emotional labor young men carry to protect others from worryingWhy humor, kindness, and being “the funny one” can be survival strategiesHow social media, isolation, and consumption culture deepen disconnectionWhat educators miss when curriculum matters more than connectionHow the Million Mask Movement helps schools get to the root, not just the symptomsWhy listening—not fixing—is often the most powerful interventionA call to parents, educators, and leaders to stop staying silentIn this episode, Ashanti explores:(0:00) Welcome to unMASKing with Male Educators(0:41) Why this conversation matters as we head into 2026(2:00) Data as words: listening to what young men aren’t saying(5:04) Voices from the Global Young Men’s Conference(6:28) Introducing the Million Mask reflections(12:00) Why students don’t show up when they don’t feel safe(15:12) Survival brains, fear, and school attendance(16:30) Front-of-mask data: happy, funny, kind(17:09) Back-of-mask data: sad, angry, tired, alone(19:34) What “happy” students are hiding(22:41) The emotional cost of never being asked twice(24:55) The funny kid: humor as armor(27:18) Social media, isolation, and identity fragmentation(30:47) Why words matter more than spreadsheets(33:15) Invitation to make a mask and bring this work to schools(35:33) Speaking truth to systems and school boards(38:00) A call to parents, educators, and advocates(40:00) Closing reflections and what’s coming nextResources & Ways to EngageThe 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 BranchInstagram: 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/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward Clubhttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #emotionalSafety #SEL #youthvoice #schoolculture #mentalhealthineducation

Welcome back to UnMASKing with Male Educators. As we reflect and look ahead, we’re revisiting one of the most personal and vulnerable episodes of the podcast, a re-release of Episode 42.Ashanti shares an honest journey through a 30-day detox that became much more than a health reset. It became a mirror, revealing how food, work, service, and self-neglect can quietly take control when we’re carrying the weight of leadership, community care, and purpose-driven work.This episode invites listeners to consider how toxins don’t just live in our bodies, they also live in our systems, including our schools. Ashanti connects personal wellness, burnout, masculinity, and emotional labor to the urgent need for proactive care for educators and young people, especially young men.As we prepare for what’s next with Ever Forward Club and the Million Mask Movement, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and ask an essential question:Who takes care of the caregivers?How food, work, and service can become coping mechanismsWhat it means to reclaim health while leading othersWhy self-care is not selfish, it’s necessary for sustainabilityThe connection between personal detox and detoxifying school cultureHow unaddressed emotional pain shows up in classrooms and communitiesWhy proactive care for young men is urgent, not optional(0:00) Reflection on re-releasing Episode 42(2:30) Early relationship with food, family, and service(6:45) The 30-day detox and what surfaced emotionally(10:30) Weight, health scares, and confronting personal limits(14:30) Why we need people who check in on us honestly(17:50) Educator burnout and the cost of always “being strong”(22:00) The role of Ever Forward Club and community care(23:00) More on the 30-day detox(28:50) Schools in crisis vs. schools doing proactive wellness work(34:50) Why detoxifying schools requires honesty and courage(39:15) The data behind the Global Young Men’s Conference(43:50) The Million Mask Movement as a tool for healing(48:30) A call to action: supporting young men and educators(51:00) Closing reflections and looking ahead to 2026“You can’t be of service if your body is falling apart.”This conversation reminds us that emotional suppression, overwork, and silence come at a cost — and that healing must happen inside ourselves before it can happen in our schools.Support the Work:Create your own mask anonymously: https://millionmask.orgLearn about the Global Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.orgSupport Ever Forward Club’s mission: https://everforwardclub.orgConnect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/As we close out the year and prepare for what’s ahead, we invite you to listen with care, reflect honestly, and consider one step you can take toward greater health — for yourself, and for the young people and communities you serve.Thank you for being part of UnMASKing with Male Educators. We’ll see you soon!#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators. As we close out the year, we’re revisiting some of the most downloaded and most meaningful conversations of the season. This replay with Dr. William (Bill) Penuel is one of those episodes that continues to resonate deeply with educators who are navigating burnout, discipline challenges, and the emotional weight of teaching in today’s schools.Dr. Bill Penuel is a former middle school teacher, professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, and a nationally recognized scholar focused on educational change, compassion, and justice in school communities. He is the co-author of Creating Compassionate Change in School Communities, a book that invites educators to rethink discipline, grading, and leadership through an inside-out approach rooted in self-compassion and collective care.As we prepare for a new season of UnMASKing with Male Educators, returning with fresh conversations and exciting news about where we’re headed—we invite you to slow down, reflect, and revisit this powerful dialogue. This episode reminds us that schools are often sites of suffering, and that compassion is not weakness, it’s a skill, a practice, and a path toward justice.Wishing you and your loved ones a restful and restorative holiday season.In this conversation, we explore how educators can cultivate compassion for themselves and their students while navigating the real challenges of classrooms and school systems. You’ll hear:How to shift your relationship to pain in order to best serve yourself and your studentsHow educators can put self-compassion into actionWhat does skillful care look like for children who are systemically marginalized?What is an “inside-out” approach to school change?(0:00) Class in session(2:00) Bill introduces himself(3:40) Bill and Ashanti share their teacher personas(11:20) Applying “contemplative practice” and “meditation” to teaching and education(12:30) Getting close to your resentment(17:20) Sitting with your pain and suffering in order to help others(22:00) Working as a bouncer and what it teaches you about servicing others(29:00) Finding common humanity, and how it helps navigating difficult situations(34:50) Critical Care - an important subject in the field of education(39:00) Deservingness gets in the way of compassion(41:30) Bill’s approach to helping boys in schools and confirming dignity(51:00) Bill’s book and where to find it---Connect with Bill Penuel:Bill’s book: https://www.colorado.edu/crowninstitute/compassionate-change-schools-book LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-penuel-8069b5/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowninstitutecu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrownInstituteCU ---Contribute to our Dance-a-thon fundraiser: https://charity.pledgeit.org/EFC-DanceAThon Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ ---Connect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/---Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support ---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/

Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators. As we close out the year, we’re revisiting some of our most impactful, most downloaded, and most transformative conversations of the season. This episode dives into a moment that has stayed with me, traveling around the world, stepping into classrooms, and noticing something surprising: more and more young people were leaving their work blank during my workshops.We unpack the patterns I saw, what they revealed about student emotional safety, and how those insights continue to shape my work with educators everywhere.As we gear up for a new season of UnMASKing with Male Educators, filled with fresh voices and global perspectives, we invite you to pause, reflect, and revisit one of our most thought-provoking conversations.(0:00) Class in session(0:40) Background on the different schools I’ve visited to start the school year and the workshops I hold(11:30) Activity 1 that was left blank: Dear Me(15:30) Why are students leaning on the excuse, “I don’t know what to do.”(19:45) Activity 2 that was left blank: The Mask(23:40) Are students “less trusting” than ever?(25:20) Closing notes and information on the Ever Forward ClubJoin/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org/Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 —Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ ---Connect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/---Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support ---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/---#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators. As we close out the year, we’re revisiting some of our most impactful, most downloaded, and most transformative conversations of the season. This episode with Nicholas Ward is one we continue to hear about from teachers around the country, practical, personal, and packed with wisdom. It represents exactly why we started this podcast.Nicholas Ward is a middle school history teacher and Athletic Director in East Oakland, where he has spent the last seven years making U.S. and world history meaningful, relevant, and empowering for students from underserved communities. Beyond the classroom, he is committed to mentorship, student leadership, and using sports and community-building to help young people grow.As we look ahead to a new season of UnMASKing with Male Educators, returning in January with fresh conversations from inspiring educators around the globe, we invite you to slow down, take notes, and enjoy one of our community’s favorite episodes.Wishing you a joyful holiday season.In this conversation, we dive into teaching with intention, leading with love, and building systems that help every student feel seen. You’ll hear:How becoming a father has impacted Nicholas’s work as a teacherHow Nicholas is intentional and consistent with his 1 on 1 check-ins with students outside of the classroomThe mentorship program that Nicholas piloted in his school to empower students across grade levelsHow he instills the idea that “rigor is love” with his students and parents at the beginning of the yearHow Nicholas teaches history, media literacy, and primary sources in the era of “fake news”, AI, and smartphone devicesThe principles and practices that Nicholas implements to start every school year(2:45) Nicholas introduces himself.(4:30) Nicholas and Ashanti share their “teacher personas”(13:00) Being both a father and a male educator(18:30) Building relationships at the beginning of the school year(19:00) The perfect notebook for educators(24:50) The special mentorship program Nicholas piloted at his school(26:20) Communicating to students and parents how “rigor is love”; pushing students to demonstrate what they’ve learned in multiple modalities(31:55) Teaching history in the era of disinformation(36:10) Tying civic engagement to history(40:45) How mentorship breaks down walls - student to student, teacher to teacher, and student to teacher(45:00) How to start the school year according to an expert---Connect with Nicholas Ward:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captovader/---Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org/global-young-mens-conference-2025 Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 —Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ ---Connect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/---Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support ---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/---#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

What if the secret to real learning has nothing to do with cognition, and everything to do with emotion?In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Maurice J. Elias, Rutgers University professor, psychologist, and one of the nation’s leading voices in social-emotional and character development, joins host Ashanti Branch for a powerful conversation about the emotional foundations of learning, teaching, and school culture.Drawing from 45 years at Rutgers and decades of work in schools around the world, Dr. Elias reveals why classrooms must be places of belonging, purpose, inspiration, and shared humanity. Together, he and Ashanti unpack the masks educators wear: the pressure to be the expert, the expectation to appear confident, and the hidden insecurities and self-doubt beneath the surface. They explore how emotions shape motivation, why students crave mattering, and how educators can build the kind of climate where young people feel seen, valued, and capable of greatness.This episode dives into the heart of school culture, why it breaks, how it heals, and what happens when educators lead with compassion, curiosity, and purpose.The emotional mask of the educator: confidence on the outside, insecurity on the insideWhy emotional experiences, not cognition, are the true engine of learningThe crisis of mattering: why kids act out when they can’t matter in positive waysHow purpose, identity, and belonging fuel motivation and academic successWhy students must co-create classroom culture and normsThe power of names, stories, and authentic relationships in the classroomWhat happens when teachers feel called to serve, but systems push them outHow school climate either nurtures or destroys learningWhy male educators leave, and why networks of support are essential(0:00) Welcome & introduction (0:59) Dr. Elias on identity, humility & purpose (2:00) The educator’s mask: confidence vs. self-doubt(4:00) Ashanti on fear of failure and legacy(6:00) Why students choose negative ways to matter(8:10) Purpose, mattering, and motivation (10:20) Why teachers tie their identity to student success (12:00) Creating school climates people want to be in (13:00) What it takes to build emotionally intelligent classrooms (14:30) Co-constructing classroom norms with students(16:20) Humanizing students: names, stories & connection (17:50) Aspirations, index cards & seeing students’ inner worlds (19:00) Why students love meaningful conversations (26:00) The backstory behind greatness: work, purpose, discipline (28:00) Systems issues in education: what schools are getting wrong (29:30) SEL as preparation for democracy (31:30) The emotional labor of teaching (38:10) Why male educators leave the profession(40:00) Networks of support for male teachers(42:30) SEL4CA and a call to communityConnect with Dr. Maurice J. EliasSEL Research & Resources – Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Development LabEmotionally Intelligent Parenting (multi-language editions)Reinvigorating Classroom Environments (new release)SEL4CA – Statewide SEL Network: SEL4CA.orgConnect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/⁠Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks⁠Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks⁠LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/⁠Website:⁠ https://www.branchspeaks.com/⁠Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club:⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support⁠Connect 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/⁠#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator #SEL #emotionalintelligence #schoolculture #teacherwellbeing

We just wrapped our second Young Men’s Conference, and I’m still taking in the power, the stories, and the lessons this year brought.From 220 registered to nearly 100 young men showing up in person, this year felt bigger, bolder, and more aligned with the work we’ve been building: helping young men normalize vulnerability, step into their strengths, and see themselves in community with mentors who truly see them.This episode is a reflective solo cast on what went well, what surprised us, and how we’re preparing for a global expansion of the movement in 2026.The growth of the Young Men’s Conference from 50 to 100 participantsWhat young men actually said about their experienceWhy “normalizing vulnerability” remains a radical actWhat we learned from the 100+ youth who didn’t show up, and how to reach them next yearThe global partners activating this movement around the worldA call to action for parents, mentors, schools, and anyone who cares about young menTimestamps(0:00) Welcome & why this episode is a reflection on the conference(2:30) What worked: attendance, workshops, volunteers & community support(4:48) How we expanded to a bigger venue and deeper partnerships(7:14) Parent testimonials and powerful stories from young men(9:40) Why “normalizing vulnerability” is the theme—and why it matters(11:30) What we learned from 220 registrants but only 100 attendees(14:07) Alberto & Parth share behind-the-scenes insights(18:00) Why this work matters even more after recent tragedies(20:30) The “critical gap” and our responsibility to young men(22:15) A call to action as we prepare for 2026Join / Contribute to the Young Men’s ConferenceJoin/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference 2026: https://everforwardclub.orgJoin our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345Submit Questions, Reflections, or Episode IdeasEmail us: totmpod100@gmail.comCreate your mask anonymously: https://millionmask.org/Connect with Ashanti BranchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/Support the Podcast & Ever Forward ClubHelp us continue creating spaces for young men to be seen, heard, and supported:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/supportConnect with Ever Forward ClubInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubTwitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator #youngmensconference #normalizevulnerability #everforwardclub

Do you ever feel like you’re carrying the weight of your students’ futures on your shoulders?That tension, between hope and exhaustion, between responsibility and grace, is familiar territory for Dr. José Luis Vilson, Executive Director of EduColor and author of This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education.In this powerful episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Dr. Vilson joins host Ashanti Branch to talk about the humanity behind teaching, the unseen emotions, the quiet anger, and the relentless faith that change is possible through education. Together, they unpack the “mask” educators wear to stay strong for their students, and what lies beneath: doubt, exhaustion, but also deep love and purpose.Dr. Vilson shares his journey from computer science to classroom teaching, his struggle with imposter syndrome, and how he channels empathy and community to sustain his work. This is a conversation about purpose, healing, and redefining what it means to teach with heart.The mask of the teacher: how educators balance strength with vulnerabilityImposter syndrome and self-forgiveness in the professionThe moral and spiritual dimensions of teachingWhy empathy and “actionable kindness” matter more than everThe legacy of teachers of color and building collective powerHow to listen deeply to students, and what they’re really sayingWhat AI, democracy, and education all have in commonPractical advice for teachers navigating burnout, self-doubt, and isolationTimestamps(0:00) Welcome & introduction(1:00) Dr. Vilson on identity and purpose(3:45) The mission behind becoming a teacher(7:20) Teaching as spiritual and moral work(10:45) The mask: what students see vs. what we hide(18:15) Fear, insecurity, and anger behind the classroom door(23:30) Carrying loss and responsibility as educators(30:00) Teaching as spiritual and legacy work(33:00) Listening to young people, and learning from them(42:00) Helping students see themselves in the future(49:00) AI, forgiveness, and the future of teaching(53:00) Finding community and collective strengthConnect with Dr. José Luis VilsonWebsite – www.thejosevilson.comEduColor – a collective for equity and justice in educationThis Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and EducationConnect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/⁠Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks⁠Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks⁠LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/⁠Website:⁠ https://www.branchspeaks.com/⁠Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club:⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support⁠Connect 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/⁠#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

Gregory Robinson Jr. is an author, educator, and mentor currently incarcerated at the Samson Correctional Institution in North Carolina. From behind prison walls, Gregory has built a movement of healing, accountability, and creativity,  guiding other men to confront their pain, share their stories, and take off their masks.Through his Wisdom of Creation series and the Million Mask Movement, Gregory has turned confinement into community. He’s teaching lessons on patience, mental health, and the power of choice, all from a place most people would never imagine transformation could begin.In this episode, Ashanti and Gregory explore how healing can happen anywhere, even behind bars, when men are given permission to be honest about what’s really going on inside.Together, they dive into:How the Million Mask Movement reached inside a North Carolina prisonWhy Gregory gathered “eight brothers, gang leaders, ex-gang leaders, and religious leaders” to take off their masksWhat happens when men are finally allowed to cry, to feel, and to healThe story behind Gregory’s children’s book The Turtle and what it teaches about patience and progressHow creative expression became his form of restorative justiceThe daily realities of incarceration and how he uses storytelling to reclaim his narrativeHis message to young men about slowing down, listening to elders, and choosing a different pathThe truth about control, freedom, and finding peace in your own mindGregory challenges us to rethink a core truth:“Even when you have no control, when you can’t eat what you want, or call home when you want, the one thing you do have control over is your mind and your narrative.”This conversation is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the belief that every man, no matter where he is, can become a catalyst for change.Timestamps:(0:00) Welcome and introduction with Ashanti (1:24) Gregory on growing up, miseducation, and missing guidance (3:43) Discovering the Million Mask Movement from inside prison (4:06) Bringing the mask to prison: “I sat down eight brothers…” (5:07) Creating mental health spaces behind the walls (6:40) The story of The Turtle: lessons on pacing, patience, and acceptance (8:16) “The turtle doesn’t run from danger, it regroups and moves forward” (10:32) Writing books from prison: creativity as survival (12:39) Gregory’s message to youth: “Be patient with life. You don’t have to rush.” (13:50) On control, mindset, and freedom (16:08) How to follow and support Gregory’s work (18:28) Closing reflections: healing from behind the wallsResources mentioned:Instagram: wisdomofcreation2Facebook Page: Wisdom of Creation 2Books: The Turtle and A Conscious Journey of My Unfolding available on AmazonGoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-wisdom-of-creations-mission support Gregory Robinson Jr. publishing and youth outreach workConnect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/⁠Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks⁠Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks⁠LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/⁠Website:⁠ https://www.branchspeaks.com/⁠Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club:⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support⁠Connect 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/⁠#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #mentalhealthmatters #healingbehindwalls #educationjustice #restorativejustice #masculinity #emotionalwellness #everforwardclub #schoolculture #brotherhood #teacherwellbeing

Nicholas Bradford is the founder and Executive Director of the National Center for Restorative Justice, where he and his team help schools across the country transform discipline systems into spaces for healing, accountability, and connection.A former teacher in Vermont and Washington and a 24-year Coast Guard veteran, Nicholas brings a grounded, compassionate, and deeply practical approach to what it means to build emotionally safe schools. His work challenges educators to replace punishment with purpose and to see conflict as an opportunity for growth rather than control.In this episode, Ashanti and Nicholas unpack what it truly means to create restorative systems that work for kids, for teachers, and for entire school communities.Together, they dive into:The difference between punishment and consequences and why most schools confuse the twoHow restorative justice actually builds accountability and belongingWhy “slowing down” conflict helps kids (and adults) process and growWhat it takes to shift school culture from compliance to connectionThe masks educators wear: confidence, productivity, and quiet doubtHow identity, harm, and vulnerability show up for both students and teachersWhy apology and repair are essential leadership skillsHow Nicholas’s own journey from teaching to restorative work reshaped his view of justice, empathy, and educationNicholas challenges us to rethink a core question:Are we trying to get even, or are we trying to get better?And what might happen if every classroom became a space where accountability was human, not punitive?Timestamps:(0:00) Welcome & introduction(0:22) Nicholas on his path from teaching to restorative justice work(3:44) Why suspensions don’t change behavior, “Kids just get better at not getting caught”(6:40) Punishment vs. consequences: Nicholas breaks down the difference(14:06) The masks Nicholas wears: capable, caring, productive, and the doubts underneath(19:17) How restorative circles help students take off their masks(25:23) What restorative justice really looks like in schools(29:56) Building connection as prevention: belonging, relationships, and safety(34:12) Personal work before systems work: why adult regulation matters(38:55) “An unregulated mind can’t regulate another unregulated mind”(43:19) Accountability as an off-ramp from punishment(46:18) Restorative justice in action: student stories of harm and repair(48:07) Resources, books, and mindset shifts for educators(50:31) Closing reflections: conflict as opportunity for learningConnect with Nicholas BradfordWebsite: National Center for Restorative JusticeLinkedIn: Nicholas BradfordBook: A Real World Guide to Restorative Justice in SchoolsEmail us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.comCreate your own mask anonymously at⁠ https://millionmask.org/Connect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/⁠Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks⁠Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks⁠LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/⁠Website:⁠ https://www.branchspeaks.com/⁠Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club:⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support⁠Connect 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/⁠#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #restorativejustice #educationjustice #socialemotionallearning #everforwardclub #schoolculture #healingineducation #emotionalintelligence #teacherwellbeing

We police ourselves too much. And by "we" I'm referring to the progressive movement.Those on the other side have built a large coalition by putting the conservative agenda above all, ignoring the warts and the ugly within the organization.This approach has made me think about what's also limiting us when it comes to recruiting male mentors: We need to embrace our warts instead of being ashamed by them. Mistakes make us better mentors.Topics include:The weaknesses of the progressive movement and why they lose the messaging battleWhat MAGA and people like Andrew Tate have figured outMale mentors and their insecuritiesTimestamps:(0:00) Welcome and recapping a retreat I attended in New Mexico(3:00) One quote about our current political environment that has really stuck with me(9:45) My solution and some problems we’re facing with it: The Young Men’s Conference(17:30) Reintroducing rites of passage to our current society---Join/Contribute to our Young Men’s Conference: https://everforwardclub.org/global-young-mens-conference-2025 Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 —Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ ---Connect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/---Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support ---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/---#unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator