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

Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask
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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. 5D AGO

    #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 min

  2. SEP 23

    #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 min

  3. SEP 16

    #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 min

  4. SEP 9

    #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 min

  5. SEP 2

    #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 min

  6. AUG 26

    #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 min

  7. AUG 20

    #36 | The Intersection of Video Games, Neurodivergence, and Good Teaching - w/ Russell Nadel, Music and Movement Educator, Composer

    Russell is a middle school music and movement educator, now entering his 20th year in the profession! And with so many years of experience in the field, he has a wealth of experience with teaching frameworks, student motivation, neurodivergent thinking, and mindfulness. I really hope that you can integrate what he says today into how you approach the start of the 25/26 school year. Today, we discuss: How Russell implements mindfulness practices to help himself and his students transition between school periods What it’s like to be a teacher with ADHD, Inattentive Type, and how being transparent about this with his students creates a warm and productive classroom community How Russell uses the Orff Schulwerk framework to teach music, and how it can be applied to all different school subjects How “leveling up” in video games can be applied in baby steps, especially in school Russell’s words of encouragement for male teachers starting the upcoming school year The importance of having someone in the building, at your school site, to share with vulnerably (0:00) Class in session (2:40) Russell introduces himself (6:30) Russell and Ashanti share their teacher personas/masks Connect with Russell Nadel: Website: http://www.russellnadel.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

    55 min

  8. AUG 12

    #35 | How to Start the School Year: Practical Advice from a 7-Year Teaching Veteran - w/ Nicholas Ward - Educator, Mentor, Sports Connoisseur

    I guarantee this episode will make you a better teacher. Practical advice, explicit tools, a clear perspective, and a way to move throughout your school site with intention - our conversation with Nicholas was exactly why we started this series. Nicholas Ward is a middle school history teacher and Athletic Director in East Oakland, where he’s been teaching for the past seven years. He focuses on making U.S. and world history meaningful and relevant, especially for students from underserved communities; and he’s also passionate about mentorship, student leadership, and using sports and community-building as tools for growth, both in and outside the classroom. We discuss: How becoming a father has impacted Nicholas’s work as a teacher How Nicholas is intentional and consistent with his 1 on 1 check-ins with students outside of the classroom The mentorship program that Nicholas piloted in his school to empower students across grade levels How he instills the idea that “rigor is love” with his students and parents at the beginning of the year How Nicholas teaches history, media literacy, and primary sources in the era of “fake news”, AI, and smartphone devices The 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/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 min
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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

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