ABCDEI

We're kicking off season 3 with a deeper look at some of the topics we explored in Seasons 1 and 2. Thanks to the incredible expertise of the guests we've spoken to, we have a rich collection of actionable learnings that you can take away – and do – right now.

In Episode 21, we dig into Leo Johnson's take on balancing the interests of those with funds and those with needs (Ep 7), Sherhara Downing's perspective on the say-do gap when it comes to inclusion (Ep 12) and Gail Strachan's assessment of the meritocracy myth (Ep 5).

So, if you're looking to be a hands-on contributor to ending anti-Black racism, you're going to want to tune in.

In the final episode of our mini-series on allyship, this week we cover three tangible things you can do to be a true, non-performative ally. In this 3-episode allyship manual arc, we've covered what allyship is not and two key practices for shifting to inclusion by default.

In the season 2 finale, we take inspiration from a popular pandemic pastime - baking - to illustrate three definitive actions that will help make you a better ally:

1. Drop the defence. Respect someone's courage when they share their truth.
2. Don't be a sheep. You have a voice and it counts.
3. Don't make it about you. When someone needs help, turn the focus on them.

If you've just found us, please give us a rating (just hit the star of your choice, no review needed even). In the spirit of self-care, we will be taking a short break before we kick off season 3 on Friday, September 3. Until then, be good to each other and yourselves!

In the second of a 3-episode arc on allyship, this week we cover the two key practices for shifting to inclusion by default. In the final episode of this arc, we will break down a few tactical things everyone can do toward being a true ally, but this week it's all about the mindset shift that has to come first.

1) The discipline of challenging the status quo 2) Exercising the inclusion muscle everywhere so you're conscious of who might be left out at any point.

We hope you will tune into this episode and stay with us for the conclusion of this episode arc next week. Thanks for listening to us loyally for almost two full seasons!

In the first of a 3 episode arc on allyship, this week we cover the five things that allyship is NOT:

1. Allyship is not a self bestowed title. Don't call yourself an ally!
2. Allyship is not a box to check on our way to collecting a certain number of 'woke' points.
3. Allyship is not something that you earn once and keep for life. You need to keep at it, with continuous improvement.
4. Allyship is not one-size-fits-all.
5. Allyship is not a badge. There's no Twitter verified check next to it. You do it anyway.

Over the the next two weeks, we'll cover

1. The key practices for shifting to inclusion by default
2. The need to embrace courage and forget ego (and how a baking analogy might help)

If you've just found us, give us a rating (just hit the star of your choice, no review needed even). Please and thank you.

Romesh Hettiarachchi, commercial lawyer at B&I Legal Counsel, has a wonderful way of breaking down identity into a conversation between the individual and community. And so, the formation of an authentic identity does require being open to and even inviting input from a diverse set of external advisors. In sharing his decision to exclude his last name from the name of his firm, Romesh shares some really important insights that leaders would be wise to honestly consider when building an inclusive business. If you've ever wondered, "what's in a name?" then you definitely should tune into this episode.

Jacqui D'Eon, founder and owner of Jade Communications, and the author of stuff happens, joins us for an honest conversation around ageism in the workplace. As an educator and a professional with over three decades of experience, Jacqui sees both ends of the age spectrum everyday. Jacqui's message is clear: move past the assumptions already. We all stand to gain a lot from multi-generational workplaces. The opportunities for two-way learning, more diverse and well-informed perspectives, and of course, true inclusion far outweighs any bumps and awkwardness along the journey. If you're in a workplace that has representation across multiple generations, you are going to want to tune in.

In light of the horrific recent discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children in unmarked graves in Kamloops, we wanted to focus our learning on the Indigenous experience. We were joined by Ben Borne, a descendant of yellow quill First Nation and co-founder of Symmetry PR. Ben shared how he came to understand his Indigenous identity and his own privilege while discovering first-hand the realities and barriers that indigenous people face in Canada. His message to well-intentioned leaders is clear: don't just say sorry, find a way to rebuild systems. Take it a step further and invite those in the margins to co-create new frameworks with you.

Rant alert. The past few weeks have brought so much pain to different marginalized groups in Canada. In today's episode, Rohini and Susan share their anguish at the hate-fueled killing of a multigenerational Pakistani family out for a walk in London, ON. They reflect on their time spent living in the Middle East and the warmth and acceptance of the Muslim people that made Oman and the UAE feel like home. Finally, they share some advice for leaders about how to create real change to address and end Islamophobia once and for all.

Episode 13 was incredibly special, because it featured one of our own. Susan's not-so-little-anymore kid, Yara, joined us for an enlightening discussion on leading with empathy, the importance of education and meeting in the middle. What really stayed with us was this: lessons from the playground translate surprisingly well into breaking down traditional workplace power structures. Yara's precociousness reinforced the origin story of ABCDEI – specifically the focus on learning/unlearning like a child. If Yara represents the voice of the next generation, we are going to be just fine, people.

In episode 12, we were lucky enough to chat with Sherhara Downing, the livewire founder of Level Comm. She helps business leaders speak confidently and concisely to build their personal brand. Sherhara shared several personal experiences that have informed her commitment to anti-racism training. Her generosity in sharing gave us serious unlearning fodder during the conversation and thereafter.

We focused on some of the barriers to doing the work to dismantle systemic racism, with ways to overcome the 3 Is of inaction: indifference, ignorance and intention. Tune into our most high-energy episode yet!