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unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
This podcast addresses the underrepresentation of male educators in K-12 schools, where only 23% of teachers are male. It focuses on creating emotionally safe classrooms for male students, who often face disproportionate disciplinary actions. The show provides actionable lesson plans, relatable stories, and a renewed sense of purpose for male educators. It emphasizes the unique role male teachers can play in addressing the youth mental health crisis, as highlighted by the US Surgeon General.
Episodes
#83 | Behind the High Performer: What We Hide Behind the Mask w/ Ron Rapatalo
What happens when someone appears confident, connected, and successful on the outside while privately navigating anxiety, avoidance, pressure, and self-doubt?In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with educator, coach, connector, podcast host, and social impact leader Ron Rapatalo to explore identity, vulnerability, high performance, community, leadership, and the emot
#82 | Behind the Confidence: Let Kids Learn To Live w/ Dr. Ray Boyd
What does it mean to lead with confidence while carrying vulnerability, caution, and responsibility behind the mask?In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with Western Australian educator and school leader Dr. Ray Boyd to explore leadership, childhood, boundaries, technology, masculinity, and the lasting impact teachers have on young people.Together, they reflect on th
#81 | Leading With Compassion w/ Joshua Stamper
What happens when an educator chooses to look beyond behavior and uncover the story, need, or struggle beneath it?In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with educator, author, speaker, and podcast host Joshua Stamper to explore relationships, leadership, student behavior, educator wellness, and the power of discovering purpose.Together, they reflect on the confidence e
#80 | Beyond The Mask: What Education Owes The World w/ Professor Richard Weissbourd
What does it truly mean to raise caring, moral, and engaged young people?In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with Harvard educator and Making Caring Common founder Professor Richard Weissbourd to discuss empathy, morality, purpose, civic responsibility, and the pressures shaping educators and students today.They explore why schools must look beyond academic achievem
#79 | Behind the Mask: The Masks We Wear, the History We Carry w/ Dr. Frederick Gooding Jr.
What happens when a historian, educator, and cultural critic invites us to think more deeply about the masks we wear, the stories we inherit, and the truths we often avoid?In this powerful episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti sits down with historian, professor, author, and public scholar Dr. Frederick Gooding Jr. Known for his work exploring African American history, race, culture, a
#78: More Than One Way to Be a Man: Redefining Masculinity w/ Gabriel Mizunaka
What happens when young people are only shown one version of what it means to be a man?Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, spoken word artist, and author Gabriel Mizunaka to explore the experiences, mentors, and moments that shaped his journey as a teacher and creative voice.Together, they discuss the masks men wear, the pressures young people face in defining masculinity, and the role poetry
#77: Student Rights Aren't Optional: Why Student Rights Can't Be Left to Chance w/ Preston Cary Green III
What happens when the protections students depend on begin to disappear in plain sight?In this conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with education law scholar Preston Cary Green III to explore how his journey shaped his commitment to protecting opportunity, dignity, and rights for all young people.Together, they discuss the masks educators wear, the ongoing fight for student protections, and why
#76: The Power of Questioning: Why Critical Thinking Must Belong to Everyone w/ Colin Seale
What if the behaviors schools label as problems are actually signs of untapped brilliance?In this conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, author, and Think Law founder Colin Seale to explore how his journey from struggling student to gifted learner, math teacher, and law school graduate shaped his mission to make critical thinking accessible to every child.Together, they discuss the
#75: What Does It Mean to Be Black in America’s Schools? w/ Brian Rashad Fuller
What happens when your earliest memories teach you lessons about race, identity, and belonging before you even understand what those words mean?In this conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, author, and education leader Brian Rashad Fuller to explore his journey into education and the story behind Being Black in America’s Schools.Together, they discuss the masks educators wear, the
#74: Hope Dealers and Possibility: Reimagining What Young People Can Become w/ Hasan Davis
What happens when one person sees your potential before you can see it yourself?Ashanti Branch sits down with Hasan Davis, educator, youth advocate, storyteller, and self-described "Hope Dealer," to explore the experiences that shaped his life and his commitment to young people. From childhood trauma and educational barriers to juvenile justice reform and national leadership, Hasan share
#73: From Survival to Purpose: The Courage to Uncover Your Light w/ Steve Sapourn
Content notes: This episode contains discussions of trauma, addiction, mental health, and psychedelic-assisted healing. Steve shares his personal experiences and perspectives. This conversation is not intended as medical, psychological, or professional treatment advice. Listeners seeking support should consult qualified healthcare or mental health professionals.What happens when the masks that hel
#72: What Happens When the Hope-Giver Needs Hope? w/ Chase Mielke
What happens when the people everyone relies on for hope, encouragement, and positivity are struggling to carry everyone else's burdens?In this powerful conversation, Ashanti Branch sits down with educator, author, and speaker Chase Mielke to explore the masks educators wear, the emotional labor of teaching, and the importance of creating spaces where both students and adults can be fully huma
#71 | Helping Kids Feel Safe Enough to Connect w/ Fernando Deveras
What happens when a certified educator, trauma-informed healing-centered facilitator, and community organizer starts asking deeper questions about masculinity, emotional safety, and the world our boys are growing up in?In this powerful episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Asahnti sits down with Mexican-American educator, former middle school teacher, community organizer, and Trauma-Informed H
#70 | If You Didn’t Start Yesterday, Start Today — w/ Nigel Williams
In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti Branch sits down with Nigel Williams, a longtime friend from Oakland, retired probation professional, high school basketball coach, father, entrepreneur, and founder of Future Rich.Nigel reflects on the masks he wears as a man who leads with heart, hope, and resilience, while carrying the hidden pressure of looking good, seeming like he has
#69 | Are You In or Are You Out? — w/ Jay Wamsted
In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti Branch sits down with Jay Wamsted, a 20-year educator, father, writer, and author of The Lockdown Artist.Jay reflects on the masks he wears as a teacher, being in control, joyful, hopeful, and steady, while carrying the hidden weight of uncertainty, frustration, and concern about the future of public education.He shares his journey as a whi
#68 | Does Your Teaching Match Who’s in the Room? — w/ Principal Baruti Kafele
In this episode of unMASKing with Male Educators, Ashanti Branch sits down with Principal Baruti Kafele, a 40-year educator, author, speaker, and school leader.Principal Kafele reflects on the mask he wore as a principal... “I’m good”, while carrying the hidden pressures of leadership, staff conflict, community expectations, and student needs.He shares how reading Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther Kin
#E67 | Clyde Cole on Emotional Safety, Authentic Leadership, and Helping Students Take the Risk to Trust
Ashanti sits down with Clyde Cole, Principal of Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School, to explore identity, leadership, education, and the masks school leaders wear.Clyde reflects on his journey as the child of immigrants, his 35 years in education, and the classroom moment that shaped his calling. He also shares how calm leadership, transparency, and emotionally safe adults can help young men build tru
#E66 | Bishop Foreman on Transformational Teaching, Leadership, and Teaching for Real Impact
Ashanti sits down with Bishop Foreman for an honest and powerful conversation about leadership, education, and the masks we wear.This episode explores what it means to lead while carrying pain, why consistency can become overcommitment, and how childhood experiences often shape the way adults show up as educators, mentors, and leaders. Bishop Foreman also shares why the best teachers do more than
#65 | Alexander Kopelman on Authenticity, Creativity, and Helping Children Stay Real
In this conversation, Ashanti sits down with Alexander Kopelman, founding president and CEO of the Children’s Arts Guild, to explore authenticity, identity, creativity, and what it means to help children thrive as whole human beings. Together, they reflect on the masks adults wear, the stories we carry from childhood, and how our own fears, wounds, and expectations can shape the way we show up for
#64 | Jason Biehl on White Discomfort, Belonging, and the Work of Healing
In this thoughtful and timely conversation, Ashanti sits down with educator, facilitator, and author Jason Biehl to explore masculinity, whiteness, emotional honesty, and what it means to nurture healthy belonging for boys and men. Together, they reflect on the fears, grief, and uncertainty many young people are carrying right now, and why adults must be willing to face discomfort, tell the truth,
#63 | Real Men Teach, Retaining Male Educators, & Strong Friends Still Need Help w/ Curtis Valentine
What does it cost to always be seen as the strong one?In this conversation, Curtis Valentine, founder of Real Men Teach and founder in residence with the American Institute for Boys and Men, joins Ashanti to talk about what it takes to recruit, support, and retain men of color in education. They explore the stereotype that men of color should always be the strong ones, how Real Men Teach grew from
#62 | Breathwork, Calm, & Impacting Lives - with Shalin Desai
What if the way through stress isn’t to push harder, but to learn how to come back to yourself?In this conversation, Shalin Desai, engineer, Art of Living Foundation leader, and breathwork teacher, shares how being introduced to these practices at 16 changed the direction of his life. Ashanti and Shalin talk about the masks men wear, the fear of failure, the calm we can carry behind the mask, and
#61 | 57 Pounds: Healing Myself While Fighting for Our Young People
Welcome to UnMASKing with Male Educators. In this episode, Ashanti shares a deeply personal update on his health and wellness journey, reflecting on what it has meant to continue detoxing, stay committed to a plant-based lifestyle, and push through both physical and emotional barriers along the way.But this conversation goes beyond the scale. Ashanti connects his fight for health to the realities
#60 | School Social Work, Grief, & the Boundaries That Keep You in the Work - with Justin Martinez
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
#59 | The Mentorship Lineage of Black Male Educators: Jacob Cory Gold, Dr. Willie Williams, Reginald Williams — Belief, Masks, and the Seeds That Outlive You
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
#58 | “Recruiting Someone Back to the Scene of a Crime”: Sharif El-Mekki, Black Men in Education, & the Work Schools Avoid
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. List
#57 | From “I Never Wanted to Teach” to Transforming 50+ Schools: Kyle Sumrow, Robby Cobbs, & the Real Work Behind EdTech
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). List
#56 | ICE, Alex Pretti, & Emotional Landmines: What Our Students Are Carrying (and What Schools Can Do Now)
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
#55 | Show Your Work: Language, Masculinity, and the Future of Learning – w/ Dr. Mark Anthony Neal – Professor, Duke University
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 c
#54 | Heart Before Head: The Emotional Work Behind Academic Success – w/ Dr. Calvin J. Hadley – Assistant Provost, Howard University
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
#53 | You’re Worth the Pause: Building Brave Spaces for Black Male Educators – w/ Ayodele Harrison – Founder, BMEsTalk
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
#52 | Why Not Today? (Dr. Steve Perry’s Wake-Up Call for Educators)
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. Pe
#51 | What’s Behind the Smile? What Young Men Are Really Carrying – Data, Masks & the Crisis of Emotional Safety
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 m
Don't Ignore It: What a 30-day cleanse taught me about educators, self-care, and the state of our boys
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 carryin
Compassion and Dignity for Educators: The key to changing school communities - w/ Dr. Bill Penuel
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 Penue
Students are Leaving Their Work BLANK - Here’s Why
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 wor
How to Start Your Next Semester: Practical Advice from a 7-Year Teaching Veteran - w/ Nicholas Ward - Educator, Mentor, Sports Connoisseur
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 midd
#50 | Building Classrooms Where Students & Teachers Thrive – w/ Dr. Maurice J. Elias – Rutgers University SEL Pioneer
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 learn
#49 | What I Learned From Hosting the Young Men’s Conference: Community, Vulnerability & Planting Seeds for 2026
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
#48 | Teaching Through Fear, Faith & Forgiveness – w/ Dr. José Luis Vilson – EduColor Executive Director
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 j
#47 | Behind Prison Walls: Healing, Brotherhood, and the Power of Masks w/ Gregory Robinson Jr. (Samson Correctional Institution)
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, Gregor
#46 | Redefining Consequences: Restorative Justice, Accountability, and Healing in Schools w/ Nicholas Bradford (National Center for Restorative Justice)
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 wha
#45 | What I’ve learned from MAGA: Fighting back with positive male mentors
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
#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 Ge
#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
#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 necess
#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 Universi
#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 me
#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 ma
#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 classroo
#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 en
#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 discus
#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 ma
#34 | If you could read your students’ minds, they’d say…
This is essential listening to start the 2025-26 school year. And as an educator, you should be able to finish the title of this episode. If you can’t, you’re not doing an essential part of the work - listening and relationship building. Well… you came to the right place to LISTEN. Listen to AJ and Angel, two young male high schoolers that are here to lift the curtain on what makes modern day stud
What Educators Get Wrong When Teaching Boys
“We need safe spaces in which guys can drop into that boyhood, that kicking the ball, or throwing the ball, or goofing around and roughhousing with each other or telling jokes, whatever it is… Because being in those moments and acting that way, I believe, takes us back to a boyhood element of ourselves, which at some point was beaten out of us… ‘That’s immature. What you’re doing, you can’t be doi
An Educator and Technology Expert Keeps It Real about Our Children
“When we can look young people in the eye, and see who they are, and tell them that they matter, and show them a book, and spark their imagination, and be right there… That’s the thing. Going through the experience with them, build up their confidence… Put a battery in their back. They need that. Everybody needs that. That little bird that’s about to jump off the nest, I’m sure the little bird nee
This Educator Built a Career and a Major Following on TikTok
“It’s been a very challenging time and my way of coping with this adversity has been through humor. I think a lot of people have been using humor as a coping mechanism because it’s a hard time, and you need to be able to laugh about it or see the absurdity in it.” - Arturo AviñaEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Arturo Aviña. As a Los Angeles-based theatre teacher, Arturo found his ca
A Teacher Quits Mid-Year, So This Man Takes the Reigns of Their Classroom
“Life is impermanent. And that doesn’t mean that we’re not important or what we contribute to life is not important. The institutions we create are not going to live forever. But the energy, the way we live - this will live on forever.” - Alfredo Mathew IIIEver Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Alfredo Mathew III. Alfredo is the co-founder of ESO Ventures, an entrepreneurial support organ
Do students think that YOU have their back? - The Critical First Step for Every Educator
Original Air Date: May 16, 2023“What keeps me hopeful is our students. Our students and our youth, they’re fearless; they’re committed; they’re open-minded. They have always been the anchor to the work that I do. When they realize that they’ve got adults that care for them and that believe in them, they give it right back. That’s something that I’m really grateful for.”Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti
Designing School for Students who Hate School - Using Video Games & Core Values
Original air date: April 30th, 2024Video Episode: https://youtu.be/-NwPW3-a688@donofriend or Donovan Taylor Hall, joins Ashanti Branch, a master educator with 20+ years of experience in schools, to talk about what they are reflecting on as educators and what they’re seeing in the halls of modern-day schools. Donovan is an experienced teacher and positive youth development expert who travels aroun
#33 | What are you doing this Summer? And how can you transform your school this Fall?
Congratulations on another school year! As you enjoy the summertime, we have somewhat of a gift for you in anticipation of what's to come... A few things that will transform your classroom and your school in the Fall.Enjoy your time off (if you're taking it), but keep these three things on the back of your mind.The Young Men’s Conference is going global (1:00)The First Week of School - Bro
#32 | The Teacher Burnout/Numb Out Spin Cycle, - w/ Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski-Hartman, Speaker, Educator, Consultant, Sociology Researcher
It seems to be that more often in life, we find our selves in that vicious cycle of burning out, then numbing out, only to burnout and numb out even more. It's safe to say this especially applies to teachers.Even the PhDs of the world, like today's guest, Brendan, find themselves in that cycle. Brendan is a sociologist who specializes in the social-emotional development and well-being of boys and
#31 | This Teacher Brings Presence, Mindfulness, and Self-Love to His School - Harry Jamerson, Teacher, San Francisco Unified School District
“If we give our children sound self-love, they will be able to deal with whatever life puts before them.”- bell hooksHarry Jamerson teaches 5th grade in San Francisco Unified School District, and he shared this quote with us before our conversation. After talking to him, I could tell he truly lives by bell hooks’ words. When it comes to self-love and emotional intellgence, Harry is keen on when to
#30 | The End of a 21-year tradition? A Lesson on Self-Talk: Reading students’ letters to themselves
As an educator in the community, how long is long enough? This past weekend was the Ever Forward Club’s Dance-A-Thon, the latest version of a community event that’s been going on every Memorial Day weekend for the past 21 years straight.Barely anyone showed up.Emotions from the day were polarized, to say the least - great connections, poor sense of relevance to the community and young people we ar
#29 | Diary of a Confused Educator: A Book for Teachers 21 Years in the Making
A rush of memories are flowing through my head. They’ve arrived for one reason in particular - on May 28th, 2025, I’m releasing a book that I’ve been dreaming of writing for 15 years. And though it’s been 15 years, the book is really 21 years in the making - 21 years as an educator.I’m going to read three passages from different stages of my teaching career - selected because this book release has
#28 | Compassion and Dignity for Educators: The key to changing school communities - w/ Dr. Bill Penuel
“If I want to be effective in this, I got to know what it feels like to be a body in pain - really - and wrestle with whatever pain is arising from me. Because if I’m not in touch with that, how can I be really anything but a fake for somebody else as they’re going through it?”Sitting with pain. Getting close to your resentment. All with the goal of helping others. This is the crux of Dr. Bill Pen
#27 | Powerful Teacher Rejuvenation After a School Shooting in Nashville
I recently attended RestorED: A Healing Experience for Educators - a collaboration between our nonprofit, the Ever Forward Club, and The Find Design, a nonprofit based in Nashville, Tennessee. During this experience, I made profound connections with great teachers, like Ms. Kayla. She’s been a rock for her students after the school shooting at Antioch H.S., in Nashville. Listen to hear what I took
#26 | Schools Need Rites of Passage… Besides Graduation
Here's an excellent way to build culture and create buy-in at your school/classroom: rites of passage. What rites of passage are appropriate for your students? What are some values to hone in on as you create rites of passage experiences for your students? What are some outside resources you can point families toward? Listen to find out!This episode was inspired by my conversation with Jordan
#25 | Kyren Lacy, The White Lotus, Adolescence, Karmelo Anthony, & Masculinity in 2025 - A Teacher’s Perspective
It’s all over the news. It’s everywhere in our art. Young boys are a lightning rod in our national conversation. And that puts a lot of pressure on you as an educator. So how do you deal? What kinds of behaviors are you observing in your classroom? And what conversations do you need to be having around your school community?(0:00) Class in session(2:00) Young boys are in the news. What’s going on?
#24 | Understanding the Root of Anti-Social Behaviors = Better Teaching - w/ Dr. Matt Englar-Carlson
“Nothing personal, it’s just business.” What teachers need to understand is the “business” of school is social capital. So when teachers have a student challenging them, disrespecting them, putting on a show in their classroom… it’s nothing personal. It’s not even about you.Our guest, Dr. Matt Englar-Carlson, a veteran in the public school system, knows a thing or two about navigating these types
#23 | The Dunning-Kruger Effect for Educators: Get your students out of a fixed mindset
There's a poster that should be in every classroom in America. It's called "The Learning Pit" by James Nottingham. The "adult" version of this concept is called the "Dunning- Kruger" effect. Look them up!In this episode, we break down what it all means and how you can implement it in your classroom. It seriously should be in every classroom.This episode was in
#22 | “For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood” - w/ Justin Haas, Organizer, Educator, Anti-Oppressor Community Cultivator
“The kids are watching. The kids see everything. If you can act and model what type of person you want them to be, that’s going to be way better than teaching them about a person you want them to be. If you can be the one who’s vulnerable first, if you can show other emotions, if you can meet them half way emotionally, that may be an opportunity for them to let their guard down, for them to see co
#21 | The “Manosphere” is Expanding - Here’s a Story that Will Help Educators Lessen Its Influence
What do Andrew Tate’s return, Netflix’s “Adolescence”, the film “Manodrome”, and the Department of Education shutdown all have in common? I break it down here - why it’s harder than ever to combat bullying in our school communities - and I provide a fundamental approach that I take. Hopefully all educators can apply this at their school site once they listen to this.This episode was inspired by my
#20 | I’ve Been Avoiding This Story, about THIS Student
It still breaks my heart to think about him, which is why I’ve never talked about him on this channel. But it’s time for you to learn about Arturo. He represents everything about why I became a teacher and the lengths we have to go to be a great educator.This episode was inspired by Carlos Moreno and his Leadership Journeys. Check out my conversation with Carlos Moreno, episode 17.---(1:20) A beau
#19 | The Department of Education is Closing its Doors Tomorrow - Here’s What Teachers and Students Will Miss
Staff at the Department of Education were told this: “Don’t come in tomorrow.” There’s a lot of rumors that Donald Trump is make major cuts to the Department of Education in his next round of Executive Orders. Most people don’t know what the Department of Education does, so what’s the big deal? Listen and learn about all the things the department does - that you’ve been taking for granted.I talked
#18 | The Solution to the "Manosphere": Male Educators - with Trevor Slater, Alternative Education Teacher
Donald Trump, Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson. Truth be told, these are the men that are winning the eyes and ears of young men right now. So what’s it’ like being a male teacher in this atmosphere, and what are some things you can do to combat these antisocial forces? Trevor Slater, a master teacher of 17 years, has some answers to this question. And when Trevor speaks, he’s always taken the time be
#17 | Why We Need More Black Male Educators - with Carlos Moreno, Educator, Co-Executive Director | Big Picture Learning
The most important thing about being a teacher is... Something ethereal... Something you can't quite put your finger on. “What is it?” you may ask… Carlos calls it leadership soul. Leadership soul is all about “the important functions love, care and vulnerability play in education leadership and how our society tends to shun these characteristics in leaders.”So how do we tap into this in an ar
#16 | Foster the Joy of Learning in Your School - w/ Roni Habib, Founder | EQ Schools, Speaker
If you’re looking for teaching practices you can implement in your classroom TOMORROW, this is your episode. In fact, just read this passage from our guest’s bio, and see if this sounds familiar:“Early in his career, Roni struggled with the high stresses and demands of teaching, even losing touch with why he wanted to be a teacher in the first place. It was so painful that he finally discovered th
#15 | Project-Based Learning MISTAKES I Made - So You Don’t Have To
“Idealistic.” “Pie in the sky.” “Unrealistic.” “Chaotic.” Project-based learning can actually be done pragmatically and effectively. Listen to these stories and guidance from my 20-year career in education, so that you don’t make the same mistakes I did.Check out the conversation that sparked these reflections,episode 12 with Justin Wells.(0:00) Class in session(1:00) Overview of project-based lea
#14 | School-Community Partnerships: How Male Volunteers and Mentors Completely Change the Dynamic of a School - w/ Jordan Bowman, Community Leader, Executive Director | Journeymen
Educators, do you ever notice how a volunteer or a community leader can completely change how students behave in your classroom? What if these community volunteers could be an entire ecosystem of support for your young people? That’s what Jordan Bowman and his organization, Journeymen, represent when he and a group of male volunteers enter the school space. Please enjoy Jordan’s insights in this w
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