E42. TOTM Face to Face #3: A Long Overdue Conversation - with Kevin Romero and Chioke Allen-Alvarez

Taking Off The Mask

English - June 16, 2021 00:10 - 1 hour - 157 MB
Self-Improvement Education Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Previous Episode: E41. Free Our Own Minds - with Donté Clark, Poet

Next Episode: E43. Moving at the Speed of Trust - with Malcolm Dydo, Director & Co-Founder, Freedom Within Project

This TOTM Face to Face conversation is between Kevin and Chioke, two friends who have known each other for 4 years since high school. Through the mask-making process and the card game "Ever Forward Club: The Adventure", Kevin and Chioke go somewhere they have never gone as friends, establishing a deeper connection that felt long overdue.

TOTM Face to Face was created during the launch of this podcast, where two or more young men participate in the process of making and sharing masks. Each participant will create a mask, as used in the TOTM podcast, and let the conversation go where it needs to go. The TOTM activity was created by Ashanti Branch during the documentary, The Mask You Live In.

(6:00) Kevin and Chioke introduce themselves and their friendship.

(7:15) Kevin and Chioke make masks together.

(10:24) Chioke shares the front of his mask - dependable, fun, intelligent. Kevin shares the front of his mask - happy, excited, funny.

(12:27) Chioke shares the back of his mask - I don’t know how to get where I want to go; I feel lost. Kevin shares the back of his mask - unmotivated, stressed, loss of energy.

(16:20) Kevin and Chioke discuss how different behaviors on social media represent the front and back of the mask.

(23:50) Kevin and Chioke answer some questions from the card game Ever Forward Club: The Adventure.

(25:20) Question: Tell us about an obstacle you have overcome in your life - Kevin shares how he faced a lot of bullying and name-calling while in school. Chioke shares how it was hard for him to find an identity and a community while growing up.

(31:59) Question: Tell us about a time when you betrayed someone’s trust - Kevin shares how it took him a long time to earn his parent’s trust, and how he dealt with the shame of breaking their trust. Chioke tells a childhood story about a time he blamed a friend for something he was also involved in.

(39:50) They reflect on the similarities between what they have shared, their relationships with their respective fathers, and how this conversation should have happened earlier in their friendship.

(46:10) Question: Tell us about a time when someone earned your trust - Kevin reflects on the multiple romantic relationships he has had. Chioke talks about his first relationship and how he learned to trust.

(56:10) Question: What was the hardest day of your life? Chioke shares what it was like when his significant other struggled with alcohol abuse and had a serious incident of alcohol poisoning. Kevin goes back to when he was bullied in HS. He recalls snapping a rubber band against his arm over and over again, and how one phone call played a huge role in his life.

(1:06:45) Kevin and Chioke wrap up and give appreciations.

---

Connect with Kevin Romero:

Instagram: instagram.com/kevinn.romeroo

---

Connect with Chioke Allen-Alvarez

Instagram: instagram.com/aa_kuya

---

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

---

Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks