E15. The Best Risk You Can Take: Looking Inwards - with Justin Odom, High School Senior and Filmmaker

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Justin Odom. Justin is a talented filmmaker and senior at Encinal High School.

(1:25) Ashanti’s introduction.

(4:00) We learn about how Justin and Ashanti met, and about Justin’s background, his work as a filmmaker, and how he is bringing the Million Mask Movement to his high school.

(5:45) Justin talks about the first time he made a mask during his freshman year. Ashanti celebrates how, three years later, Justin is now entering a leadership role.

(8:55) Ashanti and Justin make their masks together.

(11:42) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, and hard working. He shares how he tends to mix his humorous side with his serious side, and sometimes to his own detriment.

(15:02) Justin shares his front - funny, serious, and protective. He shares more about how he has a giving, selfless personality. And he shares how he has turned into a more serious and protective person.

(17:40) Justin reflects on the mask-making process, how life changes day by day, and it makes every mask different.

(18:25) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness about death, and childhood trauma. He talks about attempting to balance his fear of failure and his self-esteem. He shares how he thought he would eventually get over his father’s death, and didn’t think it would stay with him for this long.

(21:11) Justin encourages Ashanti to finish writing the book Ashanti has been putting off. They discuss how not taking big risks can, at times, be a bigger risk than the risk itself.

(24:42) Justin shares the back of his mask - lost, lonely, and depressed. He talks about his worries about the future, keeping his friend group small, and his battles with depression.

(31:00) Justin opens up about what it took to start his Youtube channel and open his heart.

(34:25) Ashanti and Justin discuss what conversations his Youtube channel sparked with Justin’s family.

(39:45) Ashanti shares how Justin’s work inspired him to be more courageous with the videos and truths he records. Justin shares how he has been able to reflect during the pandemic.

(42:45) Justin and Ashanti talk about different types of relationships: how some are lifelong relationships and some hold specific, finite reasons.

(45:00) They discuss how there are two sides to everything, how the pain of love is necessary for people to appreciate the ecstasy.

(52:00) Justin and Ashanti relate to the fact that they are both giving people, but do not want to burden people with their own needs.

(53:30) The men wrap up - discussing future work Justin will be doing for EFC, and sharing some final thoughts and future projects.

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Connect with Justin Odom:

Instagram: instagram.com/justin.odom_

Youtube: Justin Relates

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram:    instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook:  facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter:   twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn:    linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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