Demystifying Diversity

In this episode of Season 3 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons examines the ways in which the #MeToo Movement both made sexual harassment visible and failed to expose the extent to which harassment is supported by abusive systems. As Daralyse and those interviewed discuss the simultaneous importance and inadequacy of the #MeToo Movement, they reveal the cultural norms that promote unhealthy power dynamics, at work and elsewhere, and invite listeners to move beyond “bad apple” thinking and to create environments wherein bystanders become upstanders!

In this episode, you will learn about:

* How the #MeToo Movement has shifted the landscape of abuse in the workplace.

* That abuse is systemic, and that ending it is a much larger and more daunting task than removing “bad apples.”

* The importance of survivors sharing their stories (if they choose) as a means of empowering themselves and supporting others.

* How workplace abuse, while more likely to be perpetrated by men against women, persists in many forms and impacts individuals of all genders.

* How sexual abuse is, at its core, an issue of inequitable and unhealthy power dynamics.

* What to look for when abuse is suspected, and ways in which to provide support, or seek help, in the face of workplace harassment.

* How to intervene to prevent harassment from escalating and to empower victims of workplace abuse.

Our guest experts this episode include:

Leora Eisenstadt - Leora is an Associate Professor in the Department of Legal Studies at the Fox School of Business at Temple University, a Murray Shusterman Research Fellow, and the Director of the Center for Ethics, Diversity and Workplace Culture - CEDWC. Leora is also an assistant producer and consultant for the Demystifying Diversity Podcast.

Armando X. Estrada - Armando, who everyone calls AXE, an Associate Professor in the Department of Policy, Organizational and Leadership Studies at Temple University. Prior to his current position, AXE served as a Program Manager and Senior Research Psychologist, with the Foundational Science Research Unit of the United States Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. Before that, he served in the US Marine Corp from 1987 to 1995 and he continues to be actively involved in the Society for Military Psychology.

Stephanie Vogt - Stephanie is a Sexual Assault and Post Traumatic Stress Support Counselor, Yoga and Meditation Teacher, survivor, writer and advocate for survivors of sexual violence and abuse.

Liz Taylor - Liz is an Assistant Professor in the Sport and Recreation Management Department at Temple University's School of Sport Tourism and Hospitality Management, whose work examines gender descrimination, homophobia, sexual harassment and assault within the athletic industry, has done a lot of work examining cultures of abuse as well as how workplace expectations of employee engagement can lead to burnout.

Ana Velasquez - Ana is a Public Relations and Online Harassment Coordinator for Right to Be, is a journalist and communications specialist who is passionate about increasing public awareness about social issues and creating healthier digital ecosystems. Prior to coming to work for Right to Be, Ana worked as a tech journalist in Columbia.

Silvia Masiero - Silvia is an Associate Professor of Information Systems at the University of Oslo and the author of more than 20 peer-reviewed works in the domain of Information and Communication Technology for Development, affectionately known as ICT4D.

Steph Gantman Kaplan - Steph is a labor and employment attorney and partner at Blank Rome. Steph was listed in the 2020 Philadelphia Business Journal as Best of the Bar: Employment Litigation. Her professional expertise extends to all areas of labor and employment law, including helping organizations to be intentional about implementing policies that seek to increase employee satisfaction while being governed by laws and best practices.

Chair Charlotte Burrows - Designated by President Biden as Chair of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - EEOC - on January 20, 2021, Chari Burrows has served as a Commissioner of the EEOC for multiple terms and who previously served as Associate Deputy Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice, as well as General Counsel for Civil and Constitutional Rights to Senator Edward M Kennedy.

Crystal Harold - Crystal is an Associate Professor in Human Resource Management and a Paul Anderson Research Fellow at Temple University's School of Business, has specifically studied abusive female supervision. Prior to pursuing her current career path, Crystal worked as a Strategic Human Resources Consultant for numerous governmental agencies, including the Air Force, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the Department of the Interior. Along with fellow researchers, she conducted a study in which they examined the conditions and impacts of abusive female supervision.

for a full transcript of this episode.

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In this Q&A episode of Season 3 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons is joined by co-hosts Zack James and Azaria Keys as they take a closer look at diversity as it relates to individuals with visible and invisible disabilities, in the workplace. This episode features an interview between Daralyse and Tanner Gers, President and Founder of AccessAbility Officer, a firm that educates and trains companies so they can become more inclusive of workers with disabilities. Tanner answers listeners' questions and shares insights about the continually evolving landscape of workplace inclusion.

In this episode, you will learn about:

* The inherent ableist biases of our society, and some of the non-obvious struggles that persons with disabilities and neuro-diversities face.

* The importance of a company's ownership over the process of educating leadership and employees in creating an inclusive workplace that fosters belonging and employee success.

* The fragility of belonging, and how disabilities and neuro-diversities play a role in the intersectionality of identity.

* The importance of coming to an employer with solutions when seeking change in the workplace.

* The value of disability-readiness, at work and elsewhere.

* Ways to find resources for workers, including in instances where those resources may not be readily, or obviously, available.

Our guest expert this episode is:

Tanner Gers - Tanner is the President and Founder of AccessAbility Officer, a data-driven disability inclusion firm who helps companies “Drive Ability D&I and Maximize ROI”. Tanner also serves as a board member for Menus4All, and recently co-authored Foresight Augmented Reality's solution proposal for the US Department of Transportation's Inclusive Design Challenge. Tanner is a US Paralympian, World Championship team member as well.

Episode hosts:

Azaria Keys - Azaria is the Assistant Director of the Fox School of Business' Center for Ethics, Diversity and Workplace Culture (CEDWC). Her work is driven by her passion to advocate for others and transform workplaces to be more inclusive and equitable.

Zack James - Zack is the marketing arm of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast and is a graduate of Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM). Zack is a self-described go-giver and DEI advocate with a passion for service and making a difference across organizations.

Daralyse Lyons - Daralyse is the host of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast as well as the author of Demystifying Diversity: Embracing Our Shared Humanity. She is a speaker, a consultant, a journalist, and a full-time DEI strategist.

Resources this episode:

for a full transcript of this episode.

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In this episode of Season 3 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons explores visible and invisible disabilities, and the ways in which individuals with disabilities contribute to society. By shining a light on a wide range of physical, mental, emotional, and sensory disabilities, this episode highlights the importance of creating workplaces that are accessible and disability-ready.

In this episode, you will learn about:

* Neurodiversity and other often invisible disabilities.

* The ways in which non-typical ways of thinking can, and often does, lead to innovation.

* The prevalence of disabilities within society, and within the workplace.

* The discrimination and rejection that people with invisible and visible disabilities face at work, and elsewhere.

* How representation is key to supporting those whose bodies and brains function in ways that are not considered “typical.

* The not-so-obvious advantages and disadvantages that people can experience when their disabilities are not readily visible to others.

* How working with people with disabilities creates opportunities for understanding and allyship.

Our guest experts this episode include:

Bev Weinberg - Bev is the Founder and Executive Director of Integrate for Good is an Occupational Therapist with a passion for enhancing community engagement with a special focus on partnering with individuals with developmental disabilities.

Tom Edwards - Tom is an Associate Professor of Instruction in Engineering Management and Director of the Department of Engineering, Technology and Management at Temple University. And he's an organizational expert who utilizes research, practical application and teaching to drive innovation in the pursuit of organizational missions.

Slobodon Vucetic - Director of the Center for Hybrid Intelligence and a professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at Temple University. Slobodon is spearheading a multidisciplinary team at Temple. And his team at Temple was awarded $2.3 million from the National Science Foundation to develop software that will provide job assistance for those with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Uma Srivastava - Uma is the COO of KultureCity, an organization that is dedicated to making the nevers possible by creating sensory accessibility and inclusion for those with invisible disabilities. Uma is passionate about eradicating stigma and expanding opportunities for inclusion through awareness and intervention. She is also co-chair for the 2022 World Games Disability Inclusion and Access Committee and co-chair for the backpacks project at Rotary Nashville.

Elizabeth Smith - Elizabeth is a graduate of Rollins College who double-majored in Music and Communications and is currently participating in the Accelerate Graduate Studies Program to obtain a Master of Public Health degree by 2024. She is a disability advocate and researcher who spoke about her experiences with remote work, and what her research showed about how remote work has enabled many individuals with disabilities to attend to their needs while optimizing their contributions and feeling connected in situations where they might have previously been excluded, either due to inaccessibility, or to identity-based discrimination.

Alida Miranda Wolf - Alida is the author of Cultures of Belonging: Building Inclusive Organizations that Last and CEO and Founder of Ethos, a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging firm dedicated to closing the opportunity gap for underrepresented and underserved groups.

Tanner Gers - Tanner is the President and Founder of AccessAbility Officer, a data-driven disability inclusion firm who helps companies “Drive Ability D&I and Maximize ROI”. Tanner also serves as a board member for Menus4All, and recently co-authored Foresight Augmented Reality's solution proposal for the US Department of Transportation's Inclusive Design Challenge. Tanner is a US Paralympian, World Championship team member as well.

Steve Bollar - Steve, aka Stand Tall Steve, is an educational thought-leader author and motivational speaker, the author of the book Ideas, Ideas, Ideas, and creator of the podcast The Stand Tall Leadership Show.

Marta Rusek - Marta is a digital storyteller with a passion for helping mission-driven organizations tell their stories. She works full-time as a social media strategist for a nonpartisan, pro-democracy, legal nonprofit in Washington, DC and she maintains a freelance client roster as a storyteller-for-hire who uses vulnerability and versatility to amplify important narratives.

Sabrina Volpone - Sabrina is an Associate Professor in the Organizational Leadership Division at the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business, and a diversity researcher. She uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand how organizations manage their diverse workforces and how diverse individuals flourish through the management of their identities at work. Sabrina spoke about there being a variety of experiences for those working remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Will Bubenik - Will is the Founder and CEO of Nebula Media Group, whose mission it is to ensure that websites are accessible so that people with disabilities can access them. From audits and fixes to training and coaching, Nebula Media Group provides customized accessibility solutions so companies can attain, maintain, and sustain a true accessibility and compliance program at their organizations.

Cameron Footman - Cameron is the first voice of Indigipedia.ca, a lifelong entrepreneur and technology advocate and the founder of Woodcrest Construction – a contracting company which specializes in welding & steel fabrication with a focus on heated furniture & art metalworks.

Sharrona Pearl - Sharrona is an Associate Professor of Bioethics and History at Drexel University is a historian theorist of the face and body, who has authored numerous books, scholarly essays, and freelance articles.

for a full transcript of this episode.

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In this first Q&A episode of Season 3 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons is joined by co-hosts Zack James and Azaria Keys as they dive deeper into the impact of remote work - not only on society as a whole, but on their own lives as well. The expert voice featured in this Q&A episode is Liz Taylor, an Assistant Professor within Temple University's Fox School of Business. Liz answers listener questions and shares further insights on research surrounding the continually evolving landscape of work.

In this episode, you will learn about:

* How remote work has created more space for adults to be present with their children and their household obligations, while still fulfilling their roles at work.

* How remote work has blurred the boundaries between work and home, and how some people have thrived in this environment, while others have not.

* How intersectionality plays a major role in how remote work has impacted, and continues to impact, people in these types of jobs.

* The disparity in work-from-home experiences between caregivers and those who are not in caregiving roles.

* How to advocate for a style of employment that supports individual and organizational needs.

* How to effectively set boundaries for oneself while working from home.

Our guest expert this episode is:

Liz Taylor - Liz is an Assistant Professor in the Sport and Recreation Management Department at Temple University's School of Sport Tourism and Hospitality Management, whose work examines gender descrimination, homophobia, sexual harassment and assault within the athletic industry, has done a lot of work examining cultures of abuse as well as how workplace expectations of employee engagement can lead to burnout.

Episode hosts:

Azaria Keys - Azaria is the Assistant Director of the Fox School of Business' Center for Ethics, Diversity and Workplace Culture (CEDWC). Her work is driven by her passion to advocate for others and transform workplaces to be more inclusive and equitable.

Zack James - Zack is the marketing arm of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast and is a graduate of Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM). Zack is a self-described go-giver and DEI advocate with a passion for service and making a difference across organizations.

Daralyse Lyons - Daralyse is the host of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast as well as the author of Demystifying Diversity: Embracing Our Shared Humanity. She is a speaker, a consultant, a journalist, and a full-time DEI strategist.

for a full transcript of this episode.

VitaSupreme Supplements:

To get 10% off your first order, go to .

In the first installment of Season 3 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons takes the listener on a deep-dive into the opportunities and difficulties that have been presented with the rise of remote work. Daralyse uncovers the ways in which the landscape of work as we know it has shifted since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, and the guests featured in this episode share insights on the impact remote work has had on people's personal and professional lives.

In this episode, you will learn about:

* How the rise of remote work has created a more equitable playing field for persons with disabilities.

* How remote work has created more space for adults to be present with their children and their household obligations, while still fulfilling their roles at work.

* How remote work has blurred the boundaries between work and home, and how some people have thrived in this environment, while others have not.

* The disparity in the work-from-home experience for caregivers and those who are not in caregiving roles.

* The disparity in experience between individuals of different identities (such as gender and/or race) when it comes to opportunities and experiences of remote work.

* How remote work has cultivated efficiency in communication in the workplace, and has helped curb opportunities for workplace harassment, unwanted comments, etc.

* The ways in which working from home can accelerate mental health concerns for some, particularly around issues of loneliness and lack of social outlets.

* How going virtual has been a challenge and a blessing to startups and established companies alike.

Our guest experts this episode include:

Shanna Hocking - Shanna is a thought-leader, keynote speaker, and writer with 20 years experience working in leadership development. Shanna is the author of One Bold Move a Day and the host of the One Bold Move a Day Podcast.

Sabrina Volpone - Sabrina is an Associate Professor in the Organizational Leadership Division at the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business, and a diversity researcher. She uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand how organizations manage their diverse workforces and how diverse individuals flourish through the management of their identities at work. Sabrina spoke about there being a variety of experiences for those working remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Munir Mandviwalla - Munir is the Professor of Management Information Systems, a Milton F. Stauffer Senior Research Fellow, and the Executive Director of the Institute for Business and Information Technology at Temple University's Fox School of Business.

Natalie Pedersen - Natalie is the Associate Professor of Legal Studies at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business, Vice President of the Employment Law Section of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business and Secretary of the Mid-Atlantic Academy of Legal Studies in Business.

Chair Charlotte Burrows - Designated by President Biden as Chair of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - EEOC - on January 20, 2021, Chari Burrows has served as a Commissioner of the EEOC for multiple terms and who previously served as Associate Deputy Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice, as well as General Counsel for Civil and Constitutional Rights to Senator Edward M Kennedy.

Elizabeth Smith - Elizabeth is a graduate of Rollins College who double-majored in Music and Communications and is currently participating in the Accelerate Graduate Studies Program to obtain a Master of Public Health degree by 2024. She is a disability advocate and researcher who spoke about her experiences with remote work, and what her research showed about how remote work has enabled many individuals with disabilities to attend to their needs while optimizing their contributions and feeling connected in situations where they might have previously been excluded, either due to inaccessibility, or to identity-based discrimination.

Joyce Jelks - Joyce Jelks, known personally and professionally as JJ, is the Head of People and Culture at Wieden and Kennedy, NY, an Army Major, the Chief Founding Member, Relationship Engagement Manager for Sean Johnson and Founder of Ottawa Park HR Advisory.

Marta Rusek - Marta is a digital storyteller with a passion for helping mission-driven organizations tell their stories. She works full-time as a social media strategist for a nonpartisan, pro-democracy, legal nonprofit in Washington, DC and she maintains a freelance client roster as a storyteller-for-hire who uses vulnerability and versatility to amplify important narratives.

Emma Bloksberg-Fireovid - Emma B-F is a speaker, trainer and leadership coach for women and nonbinary folks in the technology industry. She's worked with 100s of leaders to accelerate their careers, maximize their confidence, and amplify their impact.

Cameron Footman - Cameron is the first voice of Indigipedia.ca, a lifelong entrepreneur and technology advocate and the founder of Woodcrest Construction – a contracting company which specializes in welding & steel fabrication with a focus on heated furniture & art metalworks.

Sunny Taylor Sunny is a decades-long entrepreneur with an at-home accounting practice of a few hundred active clients. She is also Daralyse's mother, and is the content editor and creative collaborator for this podcast.

Jacqui Lipton - Jacqui is a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, an attorney, a literary agent, and the author of numerous academic texts. Jacqui also authored Law and Authors: A Legal Handbook for Writers, which is a must-read for authors looking to know their rights, increase their self-advocacy skills, and understand the intricacies of the publishing industry. She founded her literary agency, Raven Quill Literary Agency, right at the start of the pandemic and she recently transitioned to agenting at the Tobias Literary Agency.

Rachel Lyons - Rachel is the Executive Director at Space for Humanity, a nonprofit organization which aims to make spaceflight available as a way to expand human perspectives, the former Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space-USA, and my cousin, started working remotely in the spring of 2020 and has thrived with the transition.

Liz Taylor - Liz is an Assistant Professor in the Sport and Recreation Management Department at Temple University's School of Sport Tourism and Hospitality Management, whose work examines gender descrimination, homophobia, sexual harassment and assault within the athletic industry, has done a lot of work examining cultures of abuse as well as how workplace expectations of employee engagement can lead to burnout.

Yulia Barnakova is the Digital Innovation Lead for the consulting practice of Heidrick & Struggles, a global Executive Search and Leadership Advisory firm. She oversees the digital dexterity development efforts for the practice, developing future-ready leaders who can stay ahead of disruptive technology, innovate with data, and transform their organizations for the digital age.

Amanda Arias - Amanda is the Director of People and Culture at Jubilee Media, who prior to her current position accumulated more than 10 years of experience helping growth-centric startups build high-performing teams, operates from the motto "treat people like people."

Kelli Clark - Kelli is the Chief Culture Officer at Aon United, who directs the firm's strategies for inclusive people leadership and culture initiatives and who played a pivotal role in scaling Aon's signature cultural workshop - Leading Aon United - to reach more than 800 colleagues virtually while maintaining more than 98% positive feedback.

Steph Gantman Kaplan - Steph is a labor and employment attorney and partner at Blank Rome. Steph was listed in the 2020 Philadelphia Business Journal as Best of the Bar: Employment Litigation. Her professional expertise extends to all areas of labor and employment law, including helping organizations to be intentional about implementing policies that seek to increase employee satisfaction while being governed by laws and best practices.

Aleksi Aaltonen - Aleksi is an Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems at Temple University's Fox School of Business has over 20 years experience in digital innovation, both as an academic and an entrepreneur.

Silvia Masiero - Silvia is an Associate Professor of Information Systems at the University of Oslo and the author of more than 20 peer-reviewed works in the domain of Information and Communication Technology for Development, affectionately known as ICT4D.

for a full transcript of this episode.

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In this introductory episode of Season 3 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons is joined by co-producers Zack James, Leora Eisenstadt and Azaria Keys as they share what listeners can expect this season. The quartet also explores how Temple University's Fox School of Business' Center for Ethics, Diversity and Workplace Culture (CEDWC), and the Demystifying Diversity Podcast came to partner with one another in the shared mission of educating and training people about skills and subjects related to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging.

The co-producers of Season 3 include:

Leora Eisenstadt - Leora is an Associate Professor in the Department of Risk, Actuarial Science and Legal Studies at the Fox School of Business at Temple University, a Murray Shusterman Research Fellow, and the Director of the Center for Ethics, Diversity and Workplace Culture - CEDWC.

Azaria Keys - Azaria is the Assistant Director of the Fox School of Business' Center for Ethics, Diversity and Workplace Culture (CEDWC). Her work is driven by her passion to advocate for others and transform workplaces to be more inclusive and equitable.

Zack James - Zack is the marketing arm of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast and is a graduate of Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM). Zack is a self-described go-giver and DEI advocate with a passion for service and making a difference across organizations.

Daralyse Lyons - Daralyse is the host of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast as well as the author of Demystifying Diversity: Embracing Our Shared Humanity. She is a speaker, a consultant, a journalist, and a full-time DEI strategist.

This season's sponsors are:

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

Demystifying Diversity Podcast creator and host, Daralyse Lyons, announces the launch of the On Being Biracial Podcast!

The On Being Biracial Podcast is a collaborative effort between biracial journalists Daralyse Lyons and Malcolm Burnley. On Being Biracial amplifies the voices of multiethnic people of a variety of ages and experiences. To learn more, go to onbeingbiracial.com or search for the On Being Biracial Podcast on your favorite podcast hosting platform.

In the final installment of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, Daralyse Lyons and Zack James conclude the season with an interview of guest Melinda Briana Epler, an expert in building allyship and empathy skills. This Q&A conversation explores not only what it means to be an ally, but also provides concrete strategies that each and every one of us can implement to be better allies in our workplaces, in our communities, and in our relationships.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The spectrum-nature of privilege and the fact that each and every one of us enjoys some level of privilege, whether we realize and acknowledge it or not.

The importance of being an ally in actions, as opposed to just in words.

The role that storytelling plays in relating the experiences of marginalization and exclusion, and how these stories substantiate the need for allyship.

How to strike the balance between challenging our loved ones to become better allies, while also meeting them where they are to prevent division and alienation.

The fact that doing nothing is an act of tacit compliance in perpetuating racism and many other -isms that our society faces.

The reminder that the work of allyship is difficult, but the effects of racism and other -isms are even more difficult, and destructive, as opposed to constructive.

How our culture of “rugged individualism” not only harms individual groups, but also harms us as a collective, on a national and global scale.

Our guest experts this episode include:

Melinda Briana Epler - Founder and CEO of Change Catalyst, Melinda is a TED speaker, a diversity and inclusion advocate, and a leader building inclusive innovation around the world. Melinda has 25 years of experience elevating brands and developing business innovation strategies for start-ups, Fortune 500 companies, global NGOs, and so much more.

As the CEO of Change Catalyst, Melinda works with her clients and partners to solve diversity and inclusion issues together. Using her background in storytelling, behavioral science and large-scale culture change, she is a strategic advisor for companies, innovation hubs, and governments around the world.

She also co-founded Tech Inclusion, a series of global solutions-focused conferences, where she has partnered with over 450 tech companies and community organizations and hosted over 50 solutions-focused diversity and inclusion events. Previously, Melinda was a marketing and culture executive, and award-winning documentary filmmaker.

She speaks, mentors and writes about diversity and inclusion, inclusive innovation, empathy, and entrepreneurship. She is the author of the book, How to Be an Ally, and she hosts the popular Leading With Empathy and Allyship Podcast.

Resources in this episode include:

Melinda Briana Epler's Book:

Melinda's TedTalk:

Melinda's Podcast:

Change Catalyst's

Connect with Melinda:

Twitter:

Instagram:

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

In this episode of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons further explores the role that allyship plays in creating true diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. This episode's conversations feature the voices of white allies who are currently doing the work to make the world a better place.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The role love plays in dismantling inequity and creating cross-cultural understanding and empathy.

How taking full responsibility and ownership of one's biases is the clearest way to overcoming them and becoming anti-racist..

The importance of expression, authenticity, and humble curiosity in creating meaningful connection that transcends differences and barriers based on identity.

How technology, while well-intended, is not a cure-all for eliminating bias.

How making real change requires showing up consistently, despite the incremental nature of progress.

Our guest experts this episode include:

Joe Henderson - Joe is a lifetime student and practitioner of non-aggressive martial arts, as well as a student and practitioner of personal immersive development with 35 years experience of training facilitation. Joe is the Founder and Director of Next Level Trainings, Philadelphia.

Melinda Briana Epler - Melinda is the Founder and CEO of Change Catalyst and author of How to Be an Ally: Actions You Can Take for a Stronger, Happier Workplace. Melinda is a diversity and inclusion expert who works as a strategic advisor for tech companies, tech hubs and governments around the world. Her TedTalk, 3 Ways to Be a Better Ally in the Workplace, is a must-watch.

Ryan Honeyman - Ryan is a Partner at LIFT Economy and coauthor of The B Corp Handbook: How to Use Business as a Force for Good. Ryan provides diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting services to B Corps and other social enterprises with a specific focus on working with white-led and/or majority white companies to educate, organize, and mobilize white-identified people towards collective liberation.

John Monaghan - John, the Director of Partnerships at All Aces, Inc. has over 20 years of community engagement and problem solving stemming from his experience in law enforcement. John is a former massage therapist and martial arts devotee turned law enforcement officer who, after retiring from the position of Chief of Police in New Hampshire, became a full-time advocate for racial equity and social justice.

Bryan Miller - Bryan is the Executive Director of Heeding God's Call to End Gun Violence, a grassroots and faith-based organization headquartered in Philadelphia, whose mission is to reduce and prevent gun violence. He has made it his mission to end gun violence, after the loss of his brother to murder in 1994.

Simon Chadwick - Simon grew up in Apartheid South Africa. His father, Bishop Graham Chadwick, was a prominent anti-apartheid activist. He spent much of his young life in South Africa, then was educated at Oxford in politics, philosophy and economics. Now, he is a United States Citizen and the author of For the People: A Citizen's Manifesto to Shaping Our Nation's Future.

Alex Vaccaro - Alex is the Richard H. Rothman Professor and Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Professor of Neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He has over 830 peer-reviewed and 210 non-peer reviewed publications and is the President of Rothman Institute, Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Co-Director of the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley and Co-Director of Spine Surgery and the Spine Fellowship Program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where he instructs current fellows and residents in the diagnosis and treatment of various spinal problems and disorders.

Jen O'Ryan - Jen O'Ryan, the founder of Double Tall Consulting, she is the author of Inclusive AF:A Field Guide for Accidental Diversity Experts and a self-titled accidental expert in diversity and inclusion.

Rob Lawless - In November of 2015, Rob set out to make 10,000 friends through hour-long, one-on one conversations. Now halfway through, he has spoken to people of a variety of backgrounds and identities, from more than 75 countries, and can see how his life experiences have enabled him to take certain risks while being loved and supported in his passions and his purpose.

Emily Anderson - Emily is a former marketing director and lifestyle expert turned human-centered designer who specializes in digital empowerment. When she's not working on another book project or using her writing as a catalyst for change, Emily is striving to bring about gender diversity in tech through her work as a coding teacher for Girls Who Code.

Peter H Reinke - Jr. Business Development Officer & Assistant Vice President at Univest Bank & Trust and the founder of the people-centered networking group Friends of Pete.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

In this episode of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons explores the enduring legacy of white supremacy and racism, and how it currently impacts our society today. This episode is the first installment of the White Allyship series, in which Daralyse interviews white allies who are actively doing work to break down barriers and make the world more inclusive from their self-acknowledged place of power, privilege, and influence.

In this episode, you will learn about:

How racism and other -isms will continue to pervade our society as long as privileged groups allow it to.

How microaggressions, when permitted, perpetrate harm in subtle and overt ways.

The role that privilege, anger, and the shirking of responsibility have in creating a culture of discrimination.

How, when unchecked, cultures of discrimination and mistrust lead to opression and systems that beget political despotism and autocracy.

How genuine connection and a desire to understand individual experience is a powerful antidote to creating cultures of discrimination.

Our guest experts this episode include:

Joe Henderson - Joe is a lifetime student and practitioner of non-aggressive martial arts, as well as a student and practitioner of personal immersive development with 35 years experience of training facilitation. Joe is the Founder and Director of Next Level Trainings, Philadelphia.

Melinda Briana Epler - Melinda is the Founder and CEO of Change Catalyst and author of How to Be an Ally: Actions You Can Take for a Stronger, Happier Workplace. Melinda is a diversity and inclusion expert who works as a strategic advisor for tech companies, tech hubs and governments around the world. Her TedTalk, 3 Ways to Be a Better Ally in the Workplace, is a must-watch.

Ryan Honeyman - Ryan is a Partner at LIFT Economy and coauthor of The B Corp Handbook: How to Use Business as a Force for Good. Ryan provides diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting services to B Corps and other social enterprises with a specific focus on working with white-led and/or majority white companies to educate, organize, and mobilize white-identified people towards collective liberation.

John Monaghan - John, the Director of Partnerships at All Aces, Inc. has over 20 years of community engagement and problem solving stemming from his experience in law enforcement. John is a former massage therapist and martial arts devotee turned law enforcement officer who, after retiring from the position of Chief of Police in New Hampshire, became a full-time advocate for racial equity and social justice.

Bryan Miller - Bryan is the Executive Director of Heeding God's Call to End Gun Violence, a grassroots and faith-based organization headquartered in Philadelphia, whose mission is to reduce and prevent gun violence. He has made it his mission to end gun violence, after the loss of his brother to murder in 1994.

Simon Chadwick - Simon grew up in Apartheid South Africa. His father, Bishop Graham Chadwick, was a prominent anti-apartheid activist. He spent much of his young life in South Africa, then was educated at Oxford in politics, philosophy and economics. Now, he is a United States Citizen and the author of For the People: A Citizen's Manifesto to Shaping Our Nation's Future.

Alex Vacaro - Alex is the Richard H. Rothman Professor and Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Professor of Neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He has over 830 peer-reviewed and 210 non-peer reviewed publications and is the President of Rothman Institute, Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Co-Director of the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley and Co-Director of Spine Surgery and the Spine Fellowship Program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where he instructs current fellows and residents in the diagnosis and treatment of various spinal problems and disorders.

Jen O'Ryan - Jen O'Ryan, the founder of Double Tall Consulting, she is the author of Inclusive AF:A Field Guide for Accidental Diversity Experts and a self-titled accidental expert in diversity and inclusion.

Rob Lawless - In November of 2015, Rob set out to make 10,000 friends through hour-long, one-on one conversations. Now halfway through, he has spoken to people of a variety of backgrounds and identities, from more than 75 countries, and can see how his life experiences have enabled him to take certain risks while being loved and supported in his passions and his purpose.

Emily Anderson - Emily is a former marketing director and lifestyle expert turned human-centered designer who specializes in digital empowerment. When she's not working on another book project or using her writing as a catalyst for change, Emily is striving to bring about gender diversity in tech through her work as a coding teacher for Girls Who Code.

Peter H Reinke - Jr. Business Development Officer & Assistant Vice President at Univest Bank & Trust and the founder of the people-centered networking group Friends of Pete.

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