Taking Off The Mask Ashanti Branch

This week we welcome David Reese, a high school English teacher with an unparalleled zest for life, to the show. David, the youngest of ten children, has been surrounded by strong women and extraordinary men throughout his life. With 7 sisters, 2 brothers, and a large extended family, David has always been inspired by the compassion, hard work, and humor of those around him.

Topics include: father figures, football, high school sports, men’s work and boys’ work in high school, transformative activities that teach students compassion and empathy, changing a school’s culture, modeling and encouraging vulnerability in the classroom(0:00) Welcome

(2:55) David introduces himself

(5:30) Ashanti's sister is recovering from health problems

(7:27) Front of David’s Mask - Sense of humor, Passion, Fascination

(9:21) Front of Ashanti’s Mask - Funny, Serious, Travel

(14:36) Back of David’s Mask - Disappointment, Despair, Shades of Inner Turmoil

(21:02) Back of Ashanti’s Mask - Anger, Worry, Shades of Inner Turmoil

(23:38) Exhausted teachers, and the Oberlin High School Men’s Work Project

(36:05) David and his father

(42:28) A transformative activity re: physical touch

(51:30) Closing

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Connect with Oberlin High School:

Website: https://www.oberlinschools.net/our-schools/oberlin-high-school

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Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

In this episode, host Ashanti Branch welcomes Antwone "Diirt Da Dreamsaver" Johnson, a motivational speaker and entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to helping individuals understand the importance of continuous learning and education. Through his organization, Growing with DiiRT, he inspires others to take charge of their own destinies, emphasizing that education is key to achieving one's dreams.

Topics include: survivor’s guilt, perfectionism, grieving, college tours, the public school system, leadership, stages of grief, history, African American history, oppression, and depression

(0:00) Welcome

(4:00) Antwone introduces himself.

(8:28) Front of Ashanti’s Mask - serious, passionate, driven(12:25) How the vision might overwhelm people

(16:27) Front of Antwone’s Mask - gratefulness/gratitude, work ethic, mannerisms

(21:13) 4 years to life - preparing young people for life after high school

(25:33) Back of Ashanti’s Mask - worry, fear of failure, grief

(29:10) Antwone’s childhood

(31:05) Back of Antwone’s Mask - perfectionism, survivor’s guilt, grieving stages, self-discovery

(37:03) Antwone’s collaboration with the Village Method

(40:08) Why college tours for underserved young people are important

(41:38) The public school system has failed

(45:18) Closing thoughts from Antwone and how to get in touch

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Connect with Antwone Johnson:

Website: https://thevillagemethod.org/ 

Website: www.growingwithdiirt.com 

Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/diirtdadreamsaver/

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Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

In this episode of "Face to Face," Wenceslao, a high school sophomore, welcomes Lucian, a 7th grader who has been part of the Ever Forward Club since the 4th grade. Lucian shares his experiences and personal growth through the club, emphasizing the importance of expressing feelings and building trust within the group.

“When you don't speak or speak up, the thought is like a bird in a cage; you have it in there, but you’re just not willing to let it fly. Let it out.”

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(0:00) Welcome

(14:00) Lucian introduces himself

(15:26) Lucian’s Mask

(15:40) Wenceslao’s Mask

(17:07) Playing the Adventure Card Game

(20:26) A poem from the Prophet

(23:06) QnA about Lucian's experience with the Black Boys Circle

(30:54) Closing

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Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

We just celebrated our 20th Anniversary! At the anniversary, Bilal, who you can get to know better in episode 161, went around and asked guests a series of rapid-fire questions. Listen to the questions in quick succession. And as they get deeper, the answers lengthen.

Before Bilal’s section, please enjoy host Ashanti Branch’s thoughts on teacher burnout, social-emotional learning in schools, Mental Health Awareness Month, and what his experience as a private school educator made him see in his former public school.

Topics include: favorite teacher, getting things off your chest, little-known facts, brotherhood, challenges of being a man, teacher burnout, school culture and climate, teacher morale, classroom budgets, Skyline High School shooting

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(0:00) Welcome!

(0:10) Ashanti’s introduction. Getting things off his chest when it comes to education.

(17:40) Getting deep with Bilal

(26:00) Going even deeper - what challenges are you facing as a man?

(37:00) Closing

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Join our 5k Challenge: https://charity.pledgeit.org/20thAnnualEF5KChallenge 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Ashanti Branch is joined by Blair Daly, a dedicated advocate for boys and men in Washington state. As the founder of the Washington Initiative for Boys and Men, Blair leads efforts in advocacy journalism and grassroots political advocacy to enhance the well-being of boys, male youth, and men in the state. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington and earned his bachelor's degree from Whitworth University. 

After college, he spent four years living in Malaysia and later drummed in a rock band in Seattle for three years. Outside of his professional life, Blair enjoys baseball, basketball, pickleball, and ping-pong.

Topics include: special interest groups, lobbying for men, getting male perspective and advocacy into government, depression, divorce, confronting grief, & family

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(0:00) Intro

(7:20) Blair introduces himself

(11:07) Front of Blair’s mask, his athleticism, and his older brother

(14:56) Front of Ashanti’s mask and the boundaries he’s working on

(22:14) Back of Blair’s mask, his history with depression, and being a child of divorce

(26:15) When is it appropriate to share difficult things with others(28:17) Back of Ashanti’s mask and an emergency with his sister

(34:30) What are you thinking vs. what are you feeling

(37:07) Grief, and the different ways we handle it - healthy and unhealthy

(43:22) Special interest groups for men

(46:00) A State Commission on Boys and Men

(49:21) Closing

(51:00) Final words from Blair

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Connect with Blair Daly:

Website: https://waboysandmen.org/

Website: https://wibm.us/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waboysmen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WABoysMen/

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Join our 5k Challenge: https://charity.pledgeit.org/20thAnnualEF5KChallenge 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Frederick Marx. Frederick, best known for Hoop Dreams (1994), is an acclaimed Academy Award and Emmy-nominated filmmaker of 40 years. Throughout his career, he has addressed significant social issues through his films, and he has been named a Chicago Tribune Artist of the Year, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a recipient of a Robert F. Kennedy Special Achievement Award. To this day, filmmaker Frederick Marx remains driven by a commitment to storytelling and social change.

Topics include: grief, regret, filmmaking outside of the Hollywood system, public service, problems with the term “nonprofit”, nonprofit vs. social profit, social entrepreneurship, legacy, and succession

(0:00) Intro

(7:05) Frederick introduces himself and his rich history with Ashanti.

(12:50) Frederick and Ashanti make their masks together.

(14:38) Front of Frederick’s Mask, and how he doesn’t hold back.

(16:47) Front of Ashanti’s Mask

(20:56) Back of Frederick’s Mask

(24:47) Back of Ashanti’s Mask

(25:50) Diving deep into experiences with grief

(30:50) How personal suffering informs public service

(33:50) Two nonprofits reaching their 20-year anniversary - Warrior Films and the Ever Forward Club

(36:50) Legacy and successors - who do we pass the torch to before we’re gone?

(42:50) Frederick gives Ashanti a serious challenge

(46:06) Frederick’s book

(47:20) Closing

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Connect with Frederick Marx:

Website: http://warriorfilms.org/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warriorfilmspage/

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Join our 5k Challenge: https://charity.pledgeit.org/20thAnnualEF5KChallenge 

Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ 

Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com 

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/

Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/

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Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support 

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Connect with Ever Forward Club:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support