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

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

Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask
Education
Million Mask Movement
Oakland, United States
Young Men's Conference
Masculinity
Mentorship
Black Male Educators
Leadership
Ever Forward Club
Mental Health
Male Educators
Real Men Teach
Techmyschool
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
Authenticity
Art Of Living Foundation
Emotionally Intelligent Learning
Young Menriends Conference
Restorative Justice
Trauma

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 t... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes305Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students

Latest Episodes

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 ... more

YouTube

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 o... more

YouTube

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 ... more

YouTube

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 ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Brian Rashad Fuller
Educator, author of Being Black in America's Schools
Educator, Author
Episode: #75: What Does It Mean to Be Black in America’s Schools? w/ Brian Rashad Fuller
Hasan Davis
Educator, youth advocate, and storyteller known as a 'hope dealer' who works to create emotionally safe classrooms for male students
Episode: #74: Hope Dealers and Possibility: Reimagining What Young People Can Become w/ Hasan Davis
Steve Sapourn
Former hedge fund manager, trauma survivor, and nervous system healing advocate
Self-employed/The Neuro's Journey
Episode: #73: From Survival to Purpose: The Courage to Uncover Your Light w/ Steve Sapourn
Chase Mielke
Educator, author, emotional health advocate
Episode: #72: What Happens When the Hope-Giver Needs Hope? w/ Chase Mielke
Fernando De Veras
Educator, father, community organizer, and advocate for healing-centered work with young people and families
LatinX Parenting (via collaborations)
Episode: #71 | Helping Kids Feel Safe Enough to Connect w/ Fernando Deveras
Nigel Williams
Founder of Future Rich; educator and mentor focusing on financial literacy and generational wealth
Future Rich
Episode: #70 | If You Didn’t Start Yesterday, Start Today — w/ Nigel Williams
Jay Wamsted
20-year middle and high school math teacher, author, educator
Independent educator/author
Episode: #69 | Are You In or Are You Out? — w/ Jay Wamsted
Baruti Kafele
Veteran educator, former principal, author, instructional leader
Independent educator and author
Episode: #68 | Does Your Teaching Match Who’s in the Room? — w/ Principal Baruti Kafele
Clyde Cole
Brooklyn-born educator, principal, and school leader with over 35 years in education
Cristo Rey Brooklyn
Episode: #E67 | Clyde Cole on Emotional Safety, Authentic Leadership, and Helping Students Take the Risk to Trust

Host

Ashanti Branch
Host of the show

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 59 ratings
  • Ashanti: a brilliant leader for a vital project!

    It’s one thing—and an important thing—to be a brilliant and dedicated male educator. It’s another thing entirely to take up the mantle of helping men join and thrive in this profession. Challenging as that is, no one could be better for this job than Ashanti. His podcast is provocative, wide-ranging, helpful, entertaining, and couldn’t be more important.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jusowells
    United States5 months ago
  • Changing the world! Ashanti is world class

    This man kicked off a journey for me 10 years ago that has led to thousands of transformations for boys and men within my non profit and professional work. His legacy extends through the lives of millions at this point.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BCGoldcoast
    United States6 months ago
  • Essential Listening: Progressive, Practical, and Inspiring Conversations

    The Unmasking podcast is one of my favorite education podcasts out there! The topics are consistently progressive, reflective, and incredibly practical for today’s educators. Ashanti does a fantastic job creating meaningful conversations with a diverse lineup of guests who offer real, applicable strategies that I can bring into my own practice. It’s an invaluable resource for anyone looking to grow personally and professionally in the field of education.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Modern Masculinity
    United States2 years ago
  • A breath of fresh air for anyone looking to explore what it means to be a man today.

    Ashanti fosters a safe space for men to have real conversations about the things that matter: challenges, heartbreak, dreams, and everything in between. Through insightful interviews, the podcast dives deep into topics like modern masculinity, vulnerability, self-love, and developing a strong mindset. It's a must-listen for any guy looking to go beyond the mask and live a more authentic life.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JRoseland
    United States2 years ago
  • Imagining what could be…

    One of your lady listeners chiming in here! Thank you for bringing authentic conversations among men and giving them space to be true and real. Thank you for giving the world a glimpse of what CAN be if we all took off our masks more often. I’m imagining the power of community. I’m imagining the love of connections. I’m imagining the eradication of fear and therefore oppression! Can you see it? I believe it’s possible and the work of Taking Off The Mask is bringing it to the surface. Deepest Gr... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PAtoAZtoALB
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests bring diverse perspectives and expertise, contributing to in-depth, meaningful discussions.
Listeners value practical, actionable strategies that can be applied in classrooms or schools.
Audiences praise the host for creating a safe space for vulnerable conversations about masculinity and education.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#5
Argentina/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#67
South Africa/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#181
Israel/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#231
Argentina/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#73: From Survival to Purpose: The Courage to Uncover Your Light w/ Steve Sapourn
Q: Can you talk more about how trauma shapes the nervous system and how teachers can recognize behavior as communication?
He explains that trauma changes regulation and that behaviors in school often reflect underlying needs; with nervous-system self-regulation and empathetic listening, teachers can meet students where they are and help them feel seen.
#73: From Survival to Purpose: The Courage to Uncover Your Light w/ Steve Sapourn
Q: So how about, will you tell folks what you want them to know about you and your story before we jump into the masks?
Sapourn describes a life shaped by childhood trauma and addiction, a turning point when nervous-system regulation revealed a path toward purpose, and how he now uses his experiences to advocate for trauma-informed education and healing.
#75: What Does It Mean to Be Black in America’s Schools? w/ Brian Rashad Fuller
Q: Tell us about the book. I definitely want to make sure people can know where to find you, follow you, grab the book, and that information too.
Brian explains that the book follows his journey through the education system from pre-K to college, using personal vignettes to illuminate injustices and link them to research, with a three-part structure that culminates in his reflections as an educator and advocate for systemic change. He emphasizes storytelling to humanize data and to inspire action, and outlines how to access the book and related materials.
#41 | The Hidden Struggles of Educators & Students - w/ Dr. Edson Andrade - CSUF Counseling Professor
Q: Thank you. For those who are either in schools or have different types of schools, what does the role of a mental health counselor do?
Edson explains that mental health counselors are similar to licensed therapists, often with a focus on school-based contexts, and that their role includes supporting student well-being, mental health, and bridging gaps between students and resources, rather than simply scheduling. He emphasizes the value of having counselors who can address multiple students' needs and the importance of specific training for bilingual/bicultural contexts.
#36 | The Intersection of Video Games, Neurodivergence, and Good Teaching - w/ Russell Nadel, Music and Movement Educator, Composer
Q: What teaching method or pedagogy do you use, specifically in Orff Schulwerk, and how does it translate to other subjects?
He explains Orff Schulwerk as an approach that emphasizes hands-on learning, play, imitation, exploration, and improvisation within a Musicianship Laboratory framework, with careful scaffolding and level-up progressions that can be applied across subjects beyond music.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers on creating emotionally safe classrooms for male students and supporting male educators through mentorship, leadership, and social-emotional strategies. Across episodes, conversations span culturally responsive teaching, authentic leadership, trauma-informed approaches, breathwork and mindfulness, and practical tools for mentorship and wellbeing. The show stands out for blending personal storytelling with action-oriented guidance, featuring educators, principals, researchers, and practitioners who champion healthier dynamics in schools and communities. It's likely to appeal to male educators seeking community and tangible tactics, as well as sponsors and partners focused on education equity, mental health, and youth dev... more

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1. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

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this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 305 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Brian Rashad Fuller
2. Hasan Davis
3. Steve Sapourn
4. Chase Mielke
5. Fernando De Veras
6. Nigel Williams
7. Jay Wamsted
8. Baruti Kafele

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