Taking Off The Mask

E10. Broadening Horizons - with Nafis Ricks, Mental Health Advocate and Coach

November 03, 2020 23:29 - 47 minutes - 109 MB

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Nafis Ricks, a mental health advocate, coach, and collaborator with www.forblackmen.org. (1:30) Ashanti’s introduction (3:03) Nafis shares his background, his work as a mental health advocate, his passion for the field of psychology and aspirations to earn a PhD, and how sports and an athletic identity taught him some essential lessons about mental health and vulnerability. (8:18) Nafis and Ashanti reflect on their childhood: Nafis shares th...

E9. Confronting The Voice in the Basement with Mark Greene, Keynote Speaker and Author

October 27, 2020 23:07 - 1 hour - 142 MB

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Mark Green, keynote speaker and author of the books The Little #MeToo Book for Men and Remaking Manhood. (3:11) Mark shares information about his publishing house, ThinkPlay Partners, NYC. (5:48) We learn about how starting a blog on masculinity 12 years ago, and stepping outside the traditional rules of masculinity led Mark to the work he does today as an author, work that is closely tied to Ashanti’s work around masks. (12:45) Mark and Ash...

E9. Confronting The Voice in the Basement - with Mark Greene, Keynote Speaker and Author

October 27, 2020 23:07 - 1 hour - 142 MB

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Mark Green, keynote speaker and author of the books The Little #MeToo Book for Men and Remaking Manhood. (3:11) Mark shares information about his publishing house, ThinkPlay Partners, NYC. (5:48) We learn about how starting a blog on masculinity 12 years ago, and stepping outside the traditional rules of masculinity led Mark to the work he does today as an author, work that is closely tied to Ashanti’s work around masks. (12:45) Mark and Ash...

E8. Kindred Spirits: A Conversation with Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement

October 20, 2020 23:45 - 1 hour - 160 MB

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA). An accomplished leader, community-builder, and advocate for children and families, Shawn has held a prominent position as mentor in Ashanti's life. The two share a spiritual connection, an intangible brotherhood, and the fronts and backs of their masks flow and roll open without ever specifically naming the activity, happening through free-flowing conversation, story, and reflec...

E7. What does true leadership look like? Being fully known, with Pastor and Youth Leader, Spencer Romero

October 13, 2020 23:54 - 49 minutes - 114 MB

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by pastor, youth leader, and cyber security business operator Spencer Romero. Spencer is not a stranger to the mask-making process, as Ashanti and Spencer have known each other for ten years. Ashanti has seen Spencer grow into a wonderful pastor and youth leader through their affiliation with TheMovement.church, in Oakland, California, whose mission is to "Overwhelm Oakland with Love." (3:00) Ashanti’s introduction. (5:29) Spencer introduces him...

E6. Realize You are Not Alone: Shared vulnerability amongst teachers, students, and beyond, w/ educator, activist, and podcast host Wali White

October 07, 2020 23:09 - 51 minutes - 117 MB

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by educator, activist, and podcast host Wali White. Wali previously hosted Ashanti on The 730 Podcast. Check out the bottom of the notes to be linked to Wali’s podcast. As a New York City school teacher, Wali, like Ashanti, has witnessed first hand the power of shared vulnerability to create life changing relationships. (3:28) Ashanti introduces the podcast. (6:13) Wali shares his background as a podcaster, basketball coach, school teacher, and...

E5. Freehand Profit - Finding Passion by Creating a Mask a Day

September 29, 2020 23:18 - 51 minutes - 118 MB

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by mask maker and artist, Freehand Profit, also known as Gary Lockwood. Gary began making masks ten years ago, starting a movement on his blog called “Mask 365”, in which he created one mask every day for a year. Now with over 161,000 Instagram followers, he has become known for reimagining and taking apart sneakers, transforming them into one of a kind masks. (1:39) Ashanti's introduction. (5:30) Gary introduces how he started making masks, str...

E5. Finding passion by creating A Mask a Day - w/ artist and designer, Freehand Profit

September 29, 2020 23:18 - 51 minutes - 118 MB

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by mask maker and artist, Freehand Profit, also known as Gary Lockwood. Gary began making masks ten years ago, starting a movement on his blog called “Mask 365”, in which he created one mask every day for a year. Now with over 161,000 Instagram followers, he has become known for reimagining and taking apart sneakers, transforming them into one of a kind masks. (1:39) Ashanti's introduction. (5:30) Gary introduces how he started making masks, str...

E4. Finding Your Galaxy and Shining Brighter - Interview with educator and artist, Noxhe Galactica and Ashanti Branch

September 22, 2020 23:00 - 48 minutes - 111 MB

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by fellow Fremont High School alumni; Dean of Students at Latitude High School in Oakland, CA; and music artist, magazine curator, and podcast host Noxhe Galactica, also known as Christian Martinez. Christian is our first educator on the platform, and the flow and connection is evident, to the point where the men are moved to share the back of their masks before even sharing the front: (3:15) Ashanti introduces the episode. (5:30) Christian int...

E3. Lewis Howes and the Mask of Masculinity

September 16, 2020 00:02 - 52 minutes - 121 MB

In this Podcast, Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by New York Times Bestselling author, Lewis Howes, author of the hit book, The School of Greatness and his newest book, The Mask of Masculinity. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high-performance business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport All-American. He hosts a top 100 iTunes ranked Apple podcast, The School of Greatness, which has over 250 million downloads and just reached their 1000...

E3. The Mask of Masculinity - Interview w/ Lewis Howes & Ashanti Branch

September 16, 2020 00:02 - 52 minutes - 121 MB

In this Podcast, Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by New York Times Bestselling author, Lewis Howes, author of the hit book, The School of Greatness and his newest book, The Mask of Masculinity. He is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high-performance business coach and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and two-sport All-American. He hosts a top 100 iTunes ranked Apple podcast, The School of Greatness, which has over 250 million downloads and just reached their 1000...

E2. Why do we resist support for our Pain and Emotions? - Interview with Clive Bryan Jr. and Ashanti Branch

August 03, 2020 01:41 - 43 minutes - 98.6 MB

Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by former student and graduating high school senior, Clive Bryan Jr. (6:23) The conversation starts with Clive introducing himself, which prompts himself and Ashanti to reflect on the ups and downs of their relationship. (20:07) Next, Ashanti and Clive share the front of their masks, (21:17) then share and discuss the back of their masks. (31:30) Finally, they reflect on the mask making process and how it has allowed Clive to continue to grow ...

TOTM Face to Face #1: Fatherhood, Addiction and Showing Up: Alam and Alberto

August 03, 2020 01:37 - 1 hour - 154 MB

TOTM Face to Face is a series of podcasts where two or more young men undergo the process of making masks, a workshop activity created by Ashanti Branch. In this conversation between Alam and Alberto, they realize how seeing each other each day did nothing for their connection until they sat down and had a conversation around the masks that they were seeing and wearing each day. (7:34) Alam and Alberto introduce the mask making process, (11:35) then discuss the front of their masks, (21:4...

E1. Mentorship, Leadership, and Failure at 19 years old - Interview with Breno Teixeira and Ashanti Branch

August 03, 2020 01:37 - 27 minutes - 62.6 MB

Trigger Warning: In this conversation the subject of suicide is talked about as Breno reflects on his friend who took his life. Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Breno Teixeira, an alumni of Ever Forward Club programming in São Paulo, Brazil. (4:18) They discuss Ashanti’s inspiration for the podcast, (5:46) Breno’s interests in philosophy as a recent high school graduate, his history with Ever Forward Club in Brazil, as well as his experience founding the non-profit Construi...

Taking Off The Mask in Two Minutes

August 03, 2020 01:27 - 1 minute - 1.85 MB

In this 2 minute montage, you will hear clips from our first 4 episodes. You will hear the voices of young men and men getting real about challenges in their lives. You will hear some of the experiences that men have faced in their lives when they are courageous and willing to be vulnerable. They have joined this movement to help other boys and men realize that #YouAreNotAlone and that there are other boys and men who are dealing with similar challenges and life experiences. You will hear p...

Welcome to Taking Off The Mask

June 14, 2020 11:12 - 41 seconds - 653 KB

a brief introduction to the Taking Off The Masks Podcast. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support