#86 | You Are Not Alone: Trust, Mentorship, and The Power of Showing up w/ Ray Seol

We don't need to micromanage the learning processes.

We have to have really deep trust on our students and we let them figure it out.

That was the voice of this week's guest, Dr. Ray Soule.

Dr. Ray Soule is an associate professor of professional music at Berklee College of Music, a Fulbright scholar, jazz bassist, producer, and educator whose work explores the intersections of music, grief, identity, leadership, and emotional well-being.

Originally from South Korea, Ray has spent more than two decades building a life as a musician and educator in the United States.

He's also recently released a book and CD called The Prison of Language.

As part of his ongoing suicide prevention campaign, especially for young artists, Ray shares how becoming both a musician and an educator were never roles he imagined for himself and how even after years of success, he still wrestles with anxiety, imposter syndrome, and the feeling of not being enough and the pressure to prove that he belongs.

In today's episode, we talk about one, how losing his mother to suicide shaped Ray's relationship with grief.

shame, vulnerability, and storytelling.

Two, why being an immigrant made Ray feel pressure to hide parts of himself and how he learned that being himself is enough.

Three, how a mentor's support taught Ray the importance of reminding others they are not alone.

Four, why educators should be able to trust, stay curious, and understand what may be behind a student's disengagement.

You know, in today's episode, we have a really rich conversation and so glad to have a new educator friend who I'm excited to learn more about.

This conversation is really deep and meaningful.

So in this month of suicide prevention, please talk to your friends, the people you care about and know you love.

Tell them you love them.

Don't make them wonder.

Hope you enjoyed today's episode.

Please take out your notes and let's start the show.

As a male educator at your school site, it can get lonely.

Only 23% of K-12 educators in America are male.

And just think about what this gender gap means for your male students.

They experience disproportionate levels of discipline.

This is a show for male educators who want to feel more understood by their community and want to create emotionally safe classrooms and schools for the next generation of male students.

Welcome to Unmasking with Male Educators.

We don't need to micromanage the learning processes.

We have to have really deep trust on our students and we let them figure it out.

That was the voice of this week's guest, Dr. Ray Soule.

Dr. Ray Soule is an associate professor of professional music at Berklee College of Music, a Fulbright scholar, jazz bassist, producer, and educator whose work explores the intersections of music, grief, identity, leadership, and emotional well-being.

Originally from South Korea, Ray has spent more than two decades building a life as a musician and educator in the United States.

He's also recently released a book and CD called The Prison of Language.

As part of his ongoing suicide prevention campaign, especially for young artists, Ray shares how becoming both a musician and an educator were never roles he imagined for himself and how even after years of success, he still wrestles with anxiety, imposter syndrome, and the feeling of not being enough and the pressure to prove that he belongs.

In today's episode, we talk about one, how losing his mother to suicide shaped Ray's relationship with grief.

shame, vulnerability, and storytelling.

Two, why being an immigrant made Ray feel pressure to hide parts of himself and how he learned that being himself is enough.

Three, how a mentor's support taught Ray the importance of reminding others they are not alone.

Four, why educators should be able to trust, stay curious, and understand what may be behind a student's disengagement.

You know, in today's episode, we have a really rich conversation and so glad to have a new educator friend who I'm excited to learn more about.

This conversation is really deep and meaningful.

So in this month of suicide prevention, please talk to your friends, the people you care about and know you love.

Tell them you love them.

Don't make them wonder.

Hope you enjoyed today's episode.

Please take out your notes and let's start the show.

As a male educator at your school site, it can get lonely.

Only 23% of K-12 educators in America are male.

And just think about what this gender gap means for your male students.

They experience disproportionate levels of discipline.

This is a show for male educators who want to feel more understood by their community and want to create emotionally safe classrooms and schools for the next generation of male students.

Welcome to Unmasking with Male Educators.