Authenticity, Belonging, Community

On this episode of INCOGNITO the podcast, Michael interviews Henry Davis! Henry is a professional filmmaker, movement instructor, and the executive director of Love Bolt, a grassroots effort to spark organic friendships across racial and socio-economic barriers. In this conversation, Michael and Henry discuss the importance of learning about your community and its history, having curiosity for the stories and experiences of others, and getting comfortable stepping outside of your comfort zone in service of personal growth. Henry shares both his and Love Bolt’s mission to encourage people to connect over shared passions, interests, and character instead of proximity or shared background alone.

Key Takeaways:

__

Henry’s Media Recommendations:

__

Find Henry’s work

__

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

__

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!

On this episode of INCOGNITO the podcast, Michael interviews David O’Donnell! David is a design strategist and researcher with over 25 years of experience in innovation consulting and the field of design thinking. He holds a Masters in Urban Planning and Public Policy, is a member of the Sonder Collective, an international cooperative of designers based in the US, the EU and several African countries, and runs a small strategy consulting business called Post Normal, which works on energy transition and public health projects for nonprofits and government agencies. In this episode, Michael and David discuss what it means for workplaces to have a culture that matches their core values, the importance of sustained time to build trust and community, and how to make people feel heard. David offers his insight that if you want to change something, you must take a tangible first step and be open to input.

Key Takeaways:

__

David’s Media Recommendations:

__

Find David’s work

__

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

__

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!

S4 Ep 8: Giving Gifts to Others | Dionna Griffin-Irons

On this episode of INCOGNITO the podcast, Michael interviews Dionna Griffin-Irons! Dionna is the longtime former Director of Diversity Talent, Inclusion, and Development for the world's largest comedy theater, The Second City. A multi-faceted producer, writer-alumni, and fierce advocate for DIB, she's used her twenty-year expertise in the industry to bring transformation and results to large corporations, not for profit organizations, colleges, universities, and small companies seeking to innovate, and build inclusive teams, and/or create progressive strategies in their new anti-racism mission values. In this episode, Michael and Dionna share what they’ve gained from their many years in the DEI space including the importance of unapologetically using your voice, giving gifts to those around you, and using awareness to cultivate compassion. Additionally, Dionna reminds us all that the first step towards feeling seen by others is to see yourself.

Key Takeaways:

__

Dionna’s Media Recommendations:

__

Find Dionna’s work

__

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

__

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!

On this episode of INCOGNITO the podcast, Michael interviews Audrey Francis! Audrey serves as the Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre, alongside Glenn Davis, where she has been an Ensemble member since 2017. She is an actor, director, educator, and coach, as well as the co-founder of Black Box Acting. In this interview, Michael and Audrey discuss the importance of embracing your imperfections, especially in positions of leadership, prioritizing shared values over outcomes, and facing challenges with a spirit of joy and curiosity. Audrey shares her incredible philosophy of what it means to trust the person that you are and how this trust will allow you to be fearless.

Key Takeaways:

__

Audrey’s Media Recommendations:

__

Find Audrey’s work

__

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

__

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!

On this episode of INCOGNITO the podcast, Michael interviews Ellie Krug! Ellie is a former civil lawyer and current national inclusivity trainer/speaker, author, radio host, and transgender rights activist based in Minnesota. In this conversation, Michael and Ellie discuss what it means to show up as you are, to practice compassion for yourself and others, and how the foundation of diversity and inclusion work is combatting the fear people have of “other.” Ellie shares the four commonalities of all people and how this can be used as a jumping off point for connection. 

Key Takeaways:

- Show up as yourself, whoever you are

- Practice gray area thinking - have compassion for others and yourself

- Ask yourself: am I trying my best under current circumstances? If yes, that has to be good enough

- Diversity and inclusion is about getting past the fear of other

- We all have four commonalities: everyone wants the children in their life to succeed, everyone wants to be free of physical/emotional violence, everyone wants twenty minutes of peace, everyone wants to love and be loved

__

Ellie’s Media Recommendations:

- Machaela Cavanaugh, Nebraska State Senator

- @MomsforSocialJustice (Twitter)

- “The Great Land Robbery” by Van R. Newkirk II (Atlantic article, September 2019)

__

Find Ellie’s work

- Ellie’s Website: https://elliekrug.com/ 

__

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

__

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!

On this episode of INCOGNITO the podcast, Michael interviews Dr. Monica Cox! Dr. Cox is a change agent, disruptor, and trailblazer, as well as a Distinguished Professor of Engineering at The Ohio State University, the CEO of STEMinent, and an authenticity coach/DEI practitioner. In this episode, Michael and Dr. Cox discuss the burden of leadership, the need to speak up against the status quo, and the importance of continuing to move towards progress, even when no one follows you. Dr. Cox offers her take on what it means to be authentic and shares what she's learned from her many years of paving the way for those who come after her.

Key Takeaways:

- There may be costs to speaking up, but it is critical that we do it anyway

- The higher up you are, the more responsibility you have to do DEI work with your organization

- Move towards progress even if no one follows you

- Trust yourself and find accomplices

- Ask: how can I support you?

__

Dr. Cox's Media Recommendations:

- The Hunger Games Series (films)

__

Find Dr. Cox's work

- Dr. Cox's Website: https://www.drmonicacox.com/ 

- Dr. Cox's Instagram: @drmonicacox

__

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

__

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!

On this episode of INCOGNITO the podcast, Michael interviews Janeane Bernstein! Janeane is a journalist, mental health advocate, radio host/producer with KUCI 88.9fm, and creator of the mental health podcast and event series, OUTSIDE THE BOX. She is a 2021 Age Boom Academy Fellow with the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center in partnership with Columbia Journalism and the author of GET THE FUNK OUT, %^&* Happens, What to Do Next!, published in 2019. In this episode, Janeane and Michael discuss the importance of being of service to others and how we can remedy the lack of kindness and connection we see in our world today. Janeane shares her philosophy that mental health is the foundation for everything else in life and, thus, must always come first.

Key Takeaways:

- Ask yourself: how can I be of service to others?

- Be kind – even small acts of kindness make a difference

- Ask people questions to find out who they are and what they need

- Mental health is always the top priority

- People need to feel heard to feel valued 

- If you can’t be authentic with the people around you, find new people

__

Janeane’s Media Recommendations:

- The Hustle (film)

__

Find Janeane’s work

__

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

__

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!

On this episode of INCOGNITO the podcast, Michael interviews Katie Remington! Katie is the Research Director for the Minnesota Justice Research Center where she leads MNJRC’s efforts to engage in participatory and collaborative community-led research on topics including the criminal legal system, youth development, and education. In this episode, Katie and Michael discuss the need to address your own limitations and biases in order to better understand others and the critical role that shared experiences play in forging connections between people of different identities. Katie shares her biggest takeaways from her many years of research, including the importance of valuing the contributions of others as much as, or even more than, your own.

Key Takeaways:

Katie’s Media Recommendations:

__

Find Katie’s work

__

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

__

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!

On this episode of INCOGNITO the podcast, Michael interviews Juan Acosta! Juan is a mental health advocate, activist, and author, whose advocacy work began in his hometown of Woodland, California at age 13. Since then, Juan’s work has focused on underserved communities, specifically the LGBTQ+, Immigrant, and Latinx community, and has impacted not only communities in California, but across the country and world. In this episode, Michael and Juan discuss the importance of making change at a local level, always keeping in mind the “why” when doing work in your community, and prioritizing collaboration in the pursuit of positive change. Additionally, Juan shares the critical role that acting with intentionality and respect plays in creating a foundation for bringing people together.  

Key Takeaways:

- Start with change at the community level

- Remember why you are doing the work

- Collaboration is crucial - allowing everyone’s voice to be heard yields the best results

- Make spaces safe through actions, not words alone

- Show up as you are - have respect for everyone

Juan’s Media Recommendations:

- Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health by Dr. Thomas Insel (Book)

__

Find Juan’s work

- Juan’s website: https://www.juanacostaofficial.com/ 

__

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

__

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 4, Michael offers his thoughts on the challenging political conflicts we are facing today, including book bans, censorship of Black history, policies threatening LGBTQ+ rights, and more. Michael shares his insight into navigating these divides, and reminds listeners to focus on making connections with others, instead of finding differences, in order to create a more inclusive society. 

Key Takeaways:

__

If you want to support INCOGNITO the podcast, here are some things you can do:

__

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!