unMASKing with Male Educators: Creating Emotionally Safe Classrooms & Schools for Male Students
152. How to Form Genuine Connections with Students - with Donovan Hall, Youth Empowerment Advocate, Educator, Coach

152. How to Form Genuine Connections with Students - with Donovan Hall, Youth Empowerment Advocate, Educator, Coach

Author: Ashanti Branch - Taking Off The Mask
Published: Tue 01 Aug 2023
Episode Link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/episodes/152--How-to-Form-Genuine-Connections-with-Students---with-Donovan-Hall--Youth-Empowerment-Advocate--Educator--Coach-e27jal6

“Sometimes I just want someone to sit with me and say, ‘I know you’re scared.’ And I never had that when I was a kid, and I don’t have it now.” - Donovan Hall

It’s our THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY episode and this conversation is a SPECIAL ONE! Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Donovan Hall. As a youth empowerment and development advocate, Donovan is currently speaking, coaching, creating content, and working on creating his first docuseries about youth in America. Donovan, with his teaching persona Donofriend, is a natural talent with kids and in the classroom. But what you’ll learn today is that this persona cannot persist without reconciling some things behind the mask…

(0:20) Ashanti’s introduction.

(6:30) Donovan introduces himself and how he dedicates himself to youth development and empowerment. Then, he and Ashanti dive right into learning, pedagogy, and emotional intelligence.

(17:20) Ashanti shares the front of his mask - funny, serious, dedicated - and he and Donovan reframe their relationship with dedication, grit, and choice.

(26:05) Donovan shares the front of his mask - Donofriend: caring, goofy, charismatic - and breaks down his approach to working in schools.

(33:40) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - worry, pride, failure.

(41:20) Donovan shares the back of his mask - Donovan: fear, loneliness, self-doubt - and how Donofriend is “at stake” if he doesn’t take care of Donovan.

(54:00) Ashanti and Donovan discuss why it is hard to “Be Your Own Best Friend” even when they preach it to others.

(1:03:30) Ashanti and Donovan discuss growth mindset, before wrapping up the conversation.

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Connect with Donovon Hall:

Website: www.donovantaylorhall.com

Instagram, TikTok, Youtube: @donofriend

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Create your own mask anonymously at millionmask.org

Email us questions and comments at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks