Authenticity, Belonging, Community

Gail Plant is an inspirational Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging advocate. She attended Drexel University, where she received her B.A. in Computer Information Systems. Immediately following graduation from Drexel in 1995, she began her career with a local company, where she worked for 27 years until her retirement in June 2022. During her tenure, she held several leadership roles within the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. Gail received her M.A. in Leadership Development in 2015, and she has spent the last 28 years coaching, mentoring, and leading others on the journey of embracing and fostering the value of themselves and others.

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email [email protected] with questions or comments about the show!

Emily McConnell is a collaborator, designer, educator, and researcher based in Chicago. She has been the resident costume designer at the CCPA Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University since 2007, designing almost 100 productions during that time all while managing the costume shop and teaching and supervising students. Starting in the fall of 2024, she will also be serving as the Program Director for Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies and the Curriculum Coordinator for Technical Theatre. She has been an Artistic Associate at Steep Theatre since 2011 and worked as a freelance designer in Chicago theatre since 1999 with credits including The House, Northlight, Oak Park Theatre Festival, Lifeline Theatre, and The Gift. Her research into collaborative methods in theatrical design has presented that research at conferences including the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and the American Theatrical Costume Association, and her writing has been published in HowlRound Theatrical Commons and Theatre Design and Technology Magazine. She holds a BA in Drama from Dartmouth College and an MA in Theatre Design from Northwestern.

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email [email protected] with questions or comments about the show!

Lusanda Mayikana is the Dean of Pluralism and Multicultural Affairs at Lake Forest Academy. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Social Justice from Lancaster University (U.K.), a Master of Arts in English Education from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and a Master of Arts in English from Middlebury College. Lusanda came to Lake Forest Academy in 2003 after spending a year as a Harvard-South Africa fellow in the African American Studies department and the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. As the Dean of Equity, Pluralism, Inclusion, and Community, Lusanda is committed to fostering an inclusive culture and community where all members enjoy belonging, agency, and support. Her focus on bridging by listening, engaging, and intentionally organizing emphasizes connectedness, understanding, and learning about our varied lived experiences.

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email [email protected] with questions or comments about the show!

Dr. Damon Cates has been the President & CEO of One Hope United since 2024. Damon received a BA from Millikin University, an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an EdD from the University of Pennsylvania. He joined One Hope United from the University of Chicago, where, for over 16 years of service, he led alumni relations and development programs for several of the University’s academic units. In addition to UChicago, Damon has also held leadership fundraising positions at the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University. Damon is a sought-after speaker who regularly presents at conferences. He has published articles on enhancing constituent engagement and building organizational capacity, and was appointed by Governor JB Pritzker to the Illinois Youth Budget Commission in 2023.  

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email [email protected] with questions or comments about the show!

Jeffrey Spahn is the founder and president of Leading Leaders Inc. For more than 20 years he has researched, coached and inspired top business executives and their teams through the distinctive collective leadership process of We the Leader. Jeff’s journey into leading leaders was sparked by experiences of collective flow in high school and as a letterman on the University of Michigan football team. His business degree from the University of Michigan and doctorate from the University of Chicago ground his practice in sound scholarship. Jeff’s most recent publication is the book, We the Leader, published by McGraw-Hill.

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email [email protected] with questions or comments about the show!

Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright, an Atlanta-based author, dynamic speaker, and strategic thought partner, writes to inspire transformation and change in communities, institutions, and personal lives. Her impactful work tackles deep-rooted challenges that demand identity shifts and enhanced capacities to achieve lasting, meaningful change. Dr. Wright champions authenticity, striving to align our aspirational identities with our lived realities. Dr. Wright is the author of seven influential books, served for 10 years on the senior leadership team as the director of enrollment management at the largest parish Episcopal school in the country, and serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Emory School of Medicine. 

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email [email protected] with questions or comments about the show!

T. Mark Meyer is a psychotherapist and a consultant for the world’s largest corporations, leading workshops on conflict resolution, authenticity, and authentic management. He coaches professional athletes in discovering their purpose and counsels both couples and individuals. After founding and spearheading several successful companies, Mark connected with his authentic self and refocused his professional aspirations. He’s a business coach and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Master Practitioner who uses his personal experience to help others live their most authentic lives.

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email [email protected] with questions or comments about the show!

Sean DeMarco Garcia is the Founder/Coordinator of Astrochemistry Consulting LLC, which offers training and coaching sessions in de-escalation and crisis intervention for frontline workers. They teach individuals how to humanely deescalate those experiencing an emotional or mental wellness crisis both in personal and professional interactions. Sean has written a book on his de-escalation work throughout his life entitled “It Isn’t About You,” and has 30+ years of experience as a naval veteran, police officer, and head of the private security department for a hospital.

Key Takeaways

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Find Guest’s work:

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email [email protected] with questions or comments about the show!

Elaine Ho serves as NASA’s Chief Diversity Officer, providing executive and transformative leadership over diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policy and programs for the entire NASA workforce. Ho is a long-time public servant who has been connected to DEIA throughout her career, having held multiple high-level positions at the Department of Agriculture, IRS, and the White House. Prior to her federal service career, Ho was a practicing attorney, specializing in employment law and workplace diversity and inclusion, and served over four years active duty as an Air Force criminal prosecutor.

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Find Guest’s work:

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram @incognitotheplay

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email [email protected] with questions or comments about the show!

Welcome back to another season of INCOGNITO the podcast! In the first episode of Season 7, Michael offers his thoughts on the demonstrated value of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our society and the high cost of its politicization in the U.S. Michael shares his insight into navigating the divisive world we find ourselves in and reminds listeners that DEI is a human issue, not a political one. 

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For more of Michael’s work, visit our website www.incognitotheplay.com or follow us on Instagram.

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Thanks to Ned Doheny for providing our podcast music! You can find him and his music on Spotify.

Editing and co-production of this podcast by Nina Kissinger.

Email [email protected] with questions or comments about the show!