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

Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask
  • 4.9 (37)
  • 实用知识
  • 一周一更

Only 23% of K-12 educators in America are male, a gender gap that has serious ramifications for male students - who often face DISPROPORTIONATE disciplinary action. This podcast is for male educators who want to embody a necessary change in schools, via healthy social-emotional outcomes. Come away with actionable lesson plans, relatable stories, and a renewed purpose. The US Surgeon General says the mental health of our youth is the "crisis of our time." Male educators are uniquely positioned to address this - because real men teach. Join our community: "Advocates for Young Men" at Skool.com

  1. 2天前

    #44 | How a high school class solved SIX MURDERS and identified a SERIAL KILLER - w/ Alex Campbell (Elizabethton High School)

    Alex Campbell is a high school social studies teacher at Elizabethton High School in East Tennessee, where he’s spent more than two decades reimagining what learning can look like. His classroom became known nationally after his students helped investigate and solve Tennessee cold cases, turning lessons in history and sociology into powerful acts of justice. As the author of 10 Lessons That Will Get You Fired (But You Must Teach Immediately) and a featured voice on the podcast Murder 101, Alex challenges the limits of traditional education. He believes teachers aren’t just keepers of knowledge, they’re creators of learning experiences who can help students make a tangible impact on the world around them. Together, Ashanti and Alex dive deep into: The masks teachers wear: confidence, control, and hidden doubt Why project-based learning transforms classrooms, and lives The story of Alex’s students helping free a woman wrongfully imprisoned for murder How vulnerability, trust, and risk-taking open doors to real learning What it means to teach with courage in a system built for compliance How purpose-driven teaching builds hope, belonging, and self-worth Alex’s reflections challenge us to ask: Are we teaching content… or changing lives? And what happens when we finally trust students to lead their own learning? Timestamps: (0:00) Welcome & introduction (1:22) Alex on teaching in East Tennessee and finding purpose through connection (4:10) The mask Alex wears: confident on the outside, uncertain within (8:35) “10 Lessons That Will Get You Fired”, why he wrote the book (14:55) The power of project-based learning in real classrooms (23:10) Students investigating cold cases and seeking justice (30:25) When learning becomes life-changing, the story of freeing an innocent woman (38:20) How Alex redefines the teacher’s role as a “creator of learning experiences” (45:05) Vulnerability and risk-taking in front of students (50:15) “Trust your students”, Alex’s message to every educator (58:00) Closing reflections: what courage looks like in education today --- Connect with Alex Campbell: Book: 10 Lessons That Will Get You Fired (But You Must Teach Immediately) Podcast: Murder 101 Feature: Knox News – Teacher Alex Campbell and His Students Help Solve Tennessee Cold Cases — 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/BranchSpeaks⁠ Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ 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/everforwardclub⁠ Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub⁠ Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/everforwardclub⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/⁠ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #educationjustice #socialemotionallearning #maskmaking #projectbasedlearning #teachersofinstagram #everforwardclub

    1 小时 2 分钟

  2. 10月7日

    #43 | Curiosity, Critique & Courage in Education – w/ sam seidel (Stanford d.school)

    What keeps educators going when the system feels overwhelming? How do we balance creativity, critique, and care in classrooms where students face everything from initiative fatigue to gun violence? In this episode, Ashanti sits down with sam seidel, educator, author, and Director of Strategy & Research at the Stanford d.school. sam has spent more than 20 years designing schools, launching youth programs, and writing about the intersections of education, identity, creativity, and justice. His most recent book, From White Folks Who Teach in the Hood (with Dr. Christopher Emdin), explores how white educators can engage in classrooms with honesty, humility, and impact. Together, Ashanti and sam dive deep into: The masks educators wear: curiosity, critique, and hidden vulnerabilitiesSchool safety and Sam’s eye-opening experience shadowing a student during an active shooter drillThe toll of initiative fatigue on teachers and studentsWhat Sam’s father (also an educator) taught him about anger as fuel for changeWhy belonging, empathy, and critical reflection matter just as much as curriculumHow the Stanford d.school’s School Safety Net is helping schools strengthen community connectionSam’s reflections push us to ask: What’s our learning edge as educators? And how do we keep interrogating the parts of ourselves we often keep hidden? Timestamps(0:00) Welcome & Introduction(1:12) Sam on trust, connection, and why safe conversations matter(3:25) Sam introduces himself and his work at the Stanford d.school(8:31) Sam’s mask: curious, critical, creative(12:18) Vulnerability: cynicism, Jewish identity, and what he hides(19:17) Challenges in education today: repression, book bans, and teacher fatigue(23:44) AI, initiative overload, and why teachers feel burned out(25:14) Sam’s experience with active shooter drills and school safety(33:08) Why student connection isn’t “extra”, it’s life-saving(44:30) Lessons from his father: anger as fuel for teaching(47:15) Sam shares his books & resources Connect with sam seidel Website: samseidel.isBooks: From White Folks Who Teach in the Hood, Hip Hop Genius 2.0, Creative Hustle, and more 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/BranchSpeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: 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/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #educationjustice #socialemotionallearning #maskmaking

    47 分钟

  3. 9月30日

    #42 | Don't Ignore It: What a 30-day cleanse taught me about educators, self-care, and the state of our boys

    I shed 30 pounds, and I’m feeling the best I’ve felt in a while. But it was 30 difficult days - of cravings, headaches, mood swings, brain fog, fatigue, you name it… But it was necessary, and it made me think, “What would that look like for our schools? Our school districts? Our educators and their classrooms?” Our schools and our young people are struggling. Are we willing to go through the necessary growing pains? (0:00) Class in session (8:15) My 30-day plant-based detox, and shedding 30 pounds of waste (15:30) Taking in the school board superintendent resignations and the budget shortages at school districts in the Bay Area (19:55) Speaking at a church and telling the congregation some upsetting statistics about boys and young men, and about our upcoming Young Men’s Conference (26:00) An invitation to contribute to your community in a way that is best for you 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/BranchSpeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: 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/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ --- #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

    37 分钟

  4. 9月23日

    #41 | The Hidden Struggles of Educators & Students - w/ Dr. Edson Andrade - CSUF Counseling Professor

    Do you ever wonder if you are doing enough? If you are truly making an impact as an educator, mentor, or leader? For Dr. Edson Andrade, those questions have been a constant companion, shaped by his journey as an undocumented immigrant, his experience with imposter syndrome, and his work training the next generation of counselors. Dr. Andrade is a professor of counseling at California State University, Fullerton. He trains bilingual and bicultural counselors who are dedicated to serving Latinx communities across Southern California. His story is one of resilience, empathy, and creating spaces of belonging for students navigating complex challenges. Today, we discuss: The masks we wear: imposter syndrome, fear, and self-doubtGrowing up undocumented for 25 years and finding belongingThe role of empathy and relationships in higher educationSupporting immigrant and undocumented students in classroomsWhy connection matters more than content in learningAdvice for young men questioning their worth and place in the worldTimestamps (0:00) Welcome & Introduction (0:29) Dr. Andrade introduces himself (3:25) Ashanti and Edson share their teacher personas/masks (5:35) Edson opens up about imposter syndrome and self-doubt (11:16) Timeline reflections and changes in higher ed (19:17) Helping students unmask in safe and supportive ways (23:18) Edson shares his undocumented journey (23:18) Social-emotional intelligence in today’s graduate students (27:45) How Edson is navigating imposter syndrome as a professor (32:37) A reminder for teachers: pause and see the whole student (33:07) Edson’s message to his younger self and today’s youth Connect with Dr. Edson Andrade:California State University, Fullerton – Counseling Program: https://ed.fullerton.edu 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/BranchSpeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: 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/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

    38 分钟

  5. 9月16日

    #40 | Students are Losing Opportunities for Productive Struggle - Here’s what you can do (feat. Jerome Hunter, Educator, Equity Consultant, Community Leader)

    I bet there are more ways you can create productive struggle in your classroom, and you haven’t thought of them. And I bet taking in what Jerome has to say about smartphones, dopamine, and struggle will help unlock something in you as an educator. Jerome is an educational strategist based in Seattle, Washington, who stands at the intersection of education, policy, community engagement, and young men & boys. A TED and NPR-featured educator and community leader, this is Jerome’s third time on the show! How Jerome works with architects and the community to design schools that promote flexibility and creativity Why analog tools are making a comeback in schools, and digital tools are being pulled back How digital technology erases productive struggle and interpersonal skills development Some new research on how smartphones affect students, and a new article by Jonathan Haidt (2:30) Jerome introduces himself (6:45) Designing school spaces for 21st-century students, and advocating for more analog learning tools (16:00) The disappearance of productive struggle and desired difficulty (21:30) Ashanti and Jerome share their masks/teacher personas, and some thoughts on inclusive masculinity and bravery (34:30) Jerome’s thoughts on how to start the school year (38:30) Jonathan Haidt and student preferences (40:00) Student microcognitions and how educators can tackle them (45:15) Jerome’s words of advice for male educators Website: https://www.jeromeleehunter.com/ --- 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/BranchSpeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: 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/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ --- #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

    48 分钟

  6. 9月9日

    #39 | Where are all the trustworthy male educators?

    We've been recruiting male educators to take part in our upcoming Young Men's Conference (details below), and the successes and difficulties in doing so have forced us to confront some important questions: Where are all the trustworthy male educators? What does it even mean to be a male? To be masculine? We hope you take this exercise and exploration as a rallying cry to support your young male students. To empower them with the right choices, role models, and opportunities to create their own narrative. To build their own definition of "masculinity" in a healthy, prosocial way. Enjoy the show :) (0:00) Class in session (7:00) What we've learned from canvassing the community and building momentum for the Young Men's Conference (9:30) What happens if your school campus does not have any trustworthy adult male educators? (14:25) What is my definition of masculinity? --- 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/BranchSpeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: 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/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ --- #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

    28 分钟

  7. 9月2日

    #38 | Students are Leaving Their Work BLANK - Here’s Why

    I travel around the world talking to young people and educators. To start the school year, I noticed a lot of young people were leaving their work blank during my workshops. What’s behind this? Something cultural? Pedagogical? Personal? Specific to each particular school? I’m going to share what I learned for future workshops, and how you can apply the lessons of these experiences to your classroom. (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 Club 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/BranchSpeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: 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/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ --- #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

    28 分钟

  8. 8月26日

    #37 | That Black Male Teacher “Hits Different” - w/ Jason Muse - SFUSD Educator

    Did you have a Black male teacher growing up? In high school? Middle school? Elementary school? The numbers go down as the grades get lower. But thankfully we have people like Jason. Jason is an elementary school teacher based in San Francisco, California. He’s been teaching in some capacity for 13 plus years, and his passion for teaching is rooted in his passion for mentorship and commitment to ensuring young people have what they need for self-actualization. Today, we discuss: How to guide boys and cultivate a healthy relationship with anger How Jason has achieved longevity in the teaching profession and made it sustainable How adopting a broad definition of mentorship can be liberating and lead to impact in your classroom Some encouraging things for male elementary school teachers at the start of this school year (0:00) Class Session (2:35) Jason introduces himself (5:30) Ashanti and Jason share their teacher personas/masks (14:00) The challenge of giving boys the space to express themselves, especially anger (18:30) Achieving longevity in the teaching profession (22:40) Infusing more mentoring in our communities, and embracing a broader definition of “mentor” (32:40) Seeing former students in a mentorship role (36:00) The role of Black male educators in elementary schools (43:40) Jason’s message for all educators --- Connect with Jason Muse: https://linktr.ee/BlackMuze 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/BranchSpeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: 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/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/ --- #unmaskingwithmaleeducators #millionmaskmovement  #takingoffthemask #totm #doace #UNWME #diaryofaconfusededucator

    51 分钟
查看全部 267 集

预告

4.9
共 5 分
37 个评分

关于

Only 23% of K-12 educators in America are male, a gender gap that has serious ramifications for male students - who often face DISPROPORTIONATE disciplinary action. This podcast is for male educators who want to embody a necessary change in schools, via healthy social-emotional outcomes. Come away with actionable lesson plans, relatable stories, and a renewed purpose. The US Surgeon General says the mental health of our youth is the "crisis of our time." Male educators are uniquely positioned to address this - because real men teach. Join our community: "Advocates for Young Men" at Skool.com

信息

你可能还喜欢