June 18, 2026

DEI Is Gone. Now What? With HR Insider Kevin Calhoun

42 minutes

Kevin Calhoun spent years doing HR and DEI work from inside some of the biggest corporations in the world. He watched those programs get built. Then he watched them get dismantled — and found himself displaced in the process. In this conversation, recorded in honor of Juneteenth, Kevin introduces the concept of James Crow: Jim Crow's more dangerous, more invisible cousin. The one with a hiring algorithm instead of a shotgun.

Notable Timestamps (verify against final audio before publishing)

03:03 — Kevin reads from his article "James Crow and Visa, Everywhere You Want to Be" — the line that stopped Allison cold

04:37 — How corporate culture shifted from servant leadership to "we're going in a different direction"

07:40 — The grief nobody talks about: losing your corporate identity in a 30-minute meeting

09:05 — The stats: DEI fell 98% in Fortune 100 communications; Black unemployment now twice white unemployment

11:47 — Performative DEI vs. real DEI — how to tell the difference

13:49 — Costco held the line against 19 attorney generals. Why some companies stay and others fold.

15:15 — What Kevin learned about not seeking validation from your organization

17:15 — The pendulum: why organizations that hold their values win long-term

20:38 — Jim Crow vs. James Crow — Kevin defines the difference

28:15 — Code switching, agency, and choosing when to show up fully as yourself

33:24 — How to find your way forward when the system has failed you

36:56 — "No company loves you." What Kevin knows that he wishes more people understood

38:58 — If you know the rules of the game before you start playing, you can't be mad if you don't win

Rather watch on YouTube? https://youtu.be/ixqV4X5EqJ8

Resources & Links Mentioned

Kevin's article: "James Crow and Visa, Everywhere You Want to Be" - available on Substack and Medium

Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-calhoun-0808882/

Kevin's email: [email protected]

Book a free podcast clarity call with Allison: allisonhare.com/freecall

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By Allison Hare

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