Demystifying Diversity

With this being the last week of Black History Month, we've made the decision that, rather than releasing a new series of episodes, we would invite Demystifying Diversity Podcast listeners to revisit previous content about Black History in America and to celebrate and honor Blackness, not only this month, but always.

We will release a new episode next week, but, in the meantime, we hope you'll go back and check out one or more of our previous episodes that center Black voices.

Those Episodes are:

Season One, Episodes 5, 6, & 7 and a Q&A Episode

Season Two, Episode 2:

Thank you for your continued listenership and keep an eye out for next week's episode announcement. If you want to be a better ally, you won't want to miss it!

In this Q&A episode of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, hosts Daralyse Lyons and Zack James speak with Temple University's Dr. Nikki Franke, Head Fencing Coach and former US Olympian. In this in-depth conversation, Dr. Franke expounds upon the lessons learned in the first two episodes of this series, while also reflecting on her own experiences of being a Black female fencer, coach and Olympian.

In this episode, you will learn about:

What it takes in order to be a pioneer in a high-pressure setting, such as that found within competitive sports.

The power of prioritizing connection and relationships in unifying groups of individuals around common goals.

The importance of supporting athletes as people, not just for their athletic accomplishments.

The role of exposing youths of all backgrounds to different sports.

The importance of diverse representation within athletics.

The value that can be derived, especially for future generations, by providing greater opportunities for kids to become involved in sports.

The importance of supporting future generations in creating authentic communication in a world of social media and constant engagement with technology.

The role that balance creates in curbing the loss that athletes feel when their playing days are over.

Our guest expert this episode is:

Dr. Nikki Franke - Dr. Franke was a member of the 1976 and 1980 US Olympic Fencing teams and was the United States Fencing Association's National Foil Champion in both 1975 and 1980. Nikki competed in the 1975 and 1979 Pan American Games capturing a silver medal in the 1975 individual foil competition and a bronze in the 1979 competition. While attending Brooklyn College, where she graduated with honors, Nikki was a four year letter winner placing third individually at the 1972 NIWFA National Championships and was named an NIWFA All-American. In 1979 she was inducted into the Brooklyn College Hall of Fame.

After transitioning into the role of coach, she continued to receive additional hall of fame honors and awards. In 1995, Nikki was inducted into the Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1998, she was inducted into the United States Fencing Association Hall of Fame. And in 2002, she was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame, which was established by the Women's Sports Foundation. Nikki was one of only three women to be inducted that year and was chosen based on her impressive coaching, playing teaching and community service records. A true trailblazer in her field she was the first Black woman hired to coach an NCAA fencing team. And now in her 49th year at the helm of the Temple Fencing program, Dr. Franke recently led the Temple Owls to their highest ranking in program history, which the team accomplished during a pandemic. She recently retired as an Associate Professor in Temple University's Department of Public Health, and she holds a Master's Degree in Health Education as well as a doctorate degree.

Resources in this episode include:

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

In this episode of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons explores the value of furthering the growth of diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of the world of sports. In interviews with current and former athletes, coaches and sports industry executives, she uncovers their perspectives and experiences regarding the critical role of sports within society. Through solutions-oriented reporting, this episode examines strategies that have worked to increase DEI, and explores the need for greater interventions to make sports a truly safe and equitable space.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The importance of representation, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in athletics.

How individual choices made by individual people to stand for inclusion can inspire an entire organization's growth in its DEI practices.

How personal narratives, as opposed to statistics, play a critical role in changing hearts and minds in the work of making the world a more inclusive place.

The role that allyship, along with hard work and grit, can play in breaking through barriers and creating change within organizations.

How exposing youth to opportunities within and outside of athletics can serve to diversify workplaces, both inside and outside of the sports world.

The economic realities and benefits of having a policy of inclusivity - not only in sports, but in any type of organization.

The importance of inclusivity in sports, especially in navigating the end-of-career transition that athletes face.

How a focus on inclusivity improves an athlete's mental health and sense of belonging, even after their playing days are over.

Our guests in this episode include:

Jordan Keesler - a graduate student at Georgia State University whose exploration of the complex relationships between sports policies and identity, with a specific focus on gender, race, and culture illuminate systemic and structural inequities within sports. Their thesis, tentatively titled “Put Me in Coach: The Phenomenology of Trans Masculine NCAA Athlete's Gender,” examines the simultaneous visibility and invisibility of trans folks in athletics. Jordan's insights about this important subject extend beyond their research and are informed by their experiences as a trans athlete who, in college, was affirmed on their cross country team and subjected to active aggression on that same college's softball team.

Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir - a Black Muslim basketball player, who has become a national and international icon, recognized as the first Muslim woman in NCAA history to play covered. The innovator behind the campaign Muslim Girls Hoop Too, Bilqis has devoted her career to encouraging Muslim girls to play sports and openly express their faith. A passionate athlete from her earliest memories, Bilquis scored 3,070 points over her high school career, setting the all-time scoring record for the entire state of Massachusetts then went on to attend the University of Memphis and later Indiana State University where, in addition to her on-the-court achievements, she was a Dean's List student.

Natalie Fahey - A lifelong athlete who transitioned during her time as a Division 1 Swimmer at University of Southern Illinois-Carbondale. Natalie is now a voice and advocate for the representation and rights of trans athletes across collegiate and amateur athletics.

Carla Torosian - An award-winning powerlifter and member of the Blackfeet tribe, Carla is an advocate for both Indigenous athletes and athletes of color. She draws from her experiences in becoming a competitive athlete while growing up on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, and facing scrutiny and discrimination for everything from her socioeconomic upbringing to her appearance.

Danielle Evans - Danielle is both a rugby player and holds the title as Miss Brighton 2021. She is the founder and creator of the viral Try Me campaign aimed at empowering people to push past the negative stereotypes to success.

Mickey Grace - Mickey started her football journey as an All-City Defensive End at Germantown High school in Philadelphia, PA. She then went on to play Division 1 Women's Rugby at West Chester University. Since making the transition from player to coach, she has served as the acting head coach of Women's Football Alliance Philadelphia team, the Philly Phantomz and still holds a seat on the board. In the off season, Coach Mickey trains numerous elite athletes including 7 Super Bowl champions. She spent 5 years as the Defensive Line and Assistant Coach at Mastery Charter North Football Program, interned for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and acted as a Scouting Apprentice for the LA Rams. Currently Mickey Grace is the Defensive Assistant for Dartmouth College.

Zack James - One of the partners of The Demystifying Diversity Podcast. Prior to forming Rebel Hill Consulting where he serves as CEO, Zack was a twelve-year veteran of the Sports & Entertainment industry. After graduating from Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism & Hospitality Management, Zack rose up the ranks from a Ticket Sales Representative to a Premium All-Access Manager with the Brooklyn Nets franchise. And, still today, he produces a variety of content and shows featuring former and current professional athletes.

Trevor Baptiste - Trevor is a Haitian-American professional lacrosse player and face-off specialist who plays for both the Premier Lacrosse League and the National Lacrosse League. Growing up in a predominantly white community and playing a predominantly white sport, Trevor offers unique experiences in what it means to not only be a minority in his sport of choice, but also in what it means to allow his play on the field to define him, and not his appearance. He offers perspective on how sport can be used to combat racism and other isms.

Jeffrey Montague - Jeffrey is the former Associate Vice Dean of Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM), and current Director of STHM's Alumni Engagement. Jeffrey is also the founder of MontagueMade Consulting, a company that supports and sustains Brand Management, Strategic & Innovative planning in the area of Hospitality and Sport, Curriculum Development, and Diversity of Thought through group and individual intervention. Jeffrey is also a partner of Real Property Capital United Advisors, a group of investors focusing on property development and investment in Hotel Development, and Public & Private Capitalization.

Bo-Dean Sanders - Bo-Dean is the author of Race Against, Against Race: My Journey of Diversity and Inclusion Through Sports, was raised in the shadow of segregation. He grew up in a predominantly Black neighborhood, played sports on entirely Black teams with Black coaches and attended majority Black schools all the way until Cheyney University, until he was recruited to play football at Villanova.

Ric Beardsley - four-time All-American defenseman and lifelong lacrosse player-turned-coach, Ric is an advocate for the game of lacrosse and is a proponent of creating opportunities for the game to be played and enjoyed by disadvantaged youth.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

This episode of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast follows host Daralyse Lyons as she explores issues concerning representation in sports. In her interviews with current and former athletes, coaches and sports industry executives, she is able to highlight the ways in which the sports world can marginalize, or “other,” its participants and stakeholders, despite holding such a prominent place in our society.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The importance of representation, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in athletics.

The potential burden and scrutiny that can result from being the first person of a marginalized identity group to enter into an academic or athletic arena.

The double-bind faced by many trans athletes as they move and perform within their sport, and the ways in which the external challenges they face shape their identity and self-conception as they navigate their gender identity.

The power of sports teams to be a voice for change and to eradicate (or perpetuate) discrimination within our society.

The pressures that members of minority groups face to conform or modify how they express themselves and their identities in order to “fit in” to the predominantly white-run space that is the sports industry.

How sports come from a white nationalist origin, and the far-reaching impact this still has today.

Our guests in this episode include:

Jordan Keesler - a graduate student at Georgia State University whose exploration of the complex relationships between sports policies and identity, with a specific focus on gender, race, and culture illuminate systemic and structural inequities within sports. Their thesis, tentatively titled “Put Me in Coach: The Phenomenology of Trans Masculine NCAA Athlete's Gender,” examines the simultaneous visibility and invisibility of trans folks in athletics. Jordan's insights about this important subject extend beyond their research and are informed by their experiences as a trans athlete who, in college, was affirmed on their cross country team and subjected to active aggression on that same college's softball team.

Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir - a Black Muslim basketball player, who has become a national and international icon, recognized as the first Muslim woman in NCAA history to play covered. The innovator behind the campaign Muslim Girls Hoop Too, Bilquis has devoted her career to encouraging Muslim girls to play sports and openly express their faith. A passionate athlete from her earliest memories, Bilquis scored 3,070 points over her high school career, setting the all-time scoring record for the entire state of Massachusetts then went on to attend the University of Memphis and later Indiana State University where, in addition to her on-the-court achievements, she was a Dean's List student.

Natalie Fahey - A lifelong athlete who transitioned during her time as a Division 1 Swimmer at University of Southern Illinois-Carbondale. Natalie is now a voice and advocate for the representation and rights of trans athletes across collegiate and amateur athletics.

Carla Torosian - An award-winning powerlifter and member of the Blackfeet tribe, Carla is an advocate for both Indigenous athletes and athletes of color. She draws from her experiences in becoming a competitive athlete while growing up on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, and facing scrutiny and discrimination for everything from her socioeconomic upbringing to her appearance.

Danielle Evans - Danielle is both a rugby player and holds the title as Miss Brighton 2021. She is the founder and creator of the viral Try Me campaign aimed at empowering people to push past the negative stereotypes to success.

Mickey Grace - Mickey started her football journey as an All-City Defensive End at Germantown High school in Philadelphia, PA. She then went on to play Division 1 Women's Rugby at West Chester University. Since making the transition from player to coach, she has served as the acting head coach of Women's Football Alliance Philadelphia team, the Philly Phantomz and still holds a seat on the board. In the off season, Coach Mickey trains numerous elite athletes including 7 Super Bowl champions. She spent 5 years as the Defensive Line and Assistant Coach at Mastery Charter North Football Program, interned for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and acted as a Scouting Apprentice for the LA Rams. Currently Mickey Grace is the Defensive Assistant for Dartmouth College.

Zack James - One of the partners of The Demystifying Diversity Podcast. Prior to forming Rebel Hill Consulting where he serves as CEO, Zack was a twelve-year veteran of the Sports & Entertainment industry. After graduating from Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism & Hospitality Management, Zack rose up the ranks from a Ticket Sales Representative to a Premium All-Access Manager with the Brooklyn Nets franchise. And, still today, he produces a variety of content and shows featuring former and current professional athletes.

Trevor Baptiste - Trevor is a Haitian-American professional lacrosse player and face-off specialist who plays for both the Premier Lacrosse League and the National Lacrosse League. Growing up in a predominantly white community and playing a predominantly white sport, Trevor offers unique experiences in what it means to not only be a minority in his sport of choice, but also in what it means to allow his play on the field to define him, and not his appearance. He offers perspective on how sport can be used to combat racism and other isms.

Jeffrey Montague - Jeffrey is the former Associate Vice Dean of Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM), and current Director of STHM's Alumni Engagement. Jeffrey is also the founder of MontagueMade Consulting, a company that supports and sustains Brand Management, Strategic & Innovative planning in the area of Hospitality and Sport, Curriculum Development, and Diversity of Thought through group and individual intervention. Jeffrey is also a partner of Real Property Capital United Advisors, a group of investors focusing on property development and investment in Hotel Development, and Public & Private Capitalization.

Bo-Dean Sanders - Bo-Dean is the author of Race Against, Against Race: My Journey of Diversity and Inclusion Through Sports, was raised in the shadow of segregation. He grew up in a predominately Black neighborhood, played sports on entirely Black teams with Black coaches and attended majority Black schools all the way until Cheyney University, until he was recruited to play football at Villanova.

Ric Beardsley - four-time All-American defenseman and lifelong lacrosse player-turned-coach, Ric is an advocate for the game of lacrosse and is a proponent of creating opportunities for the game to be played and enjoyed by disadvantaged youth.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

In this Question and Answer episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, hosts Daralyse Lyons and Zack James are joined by geriatrician and aging expert Lena Makaroun, as the three of them explore ageism and the ways in which anti-ageist attitudes show up in our society. They focus on self-examination, allyship, inclusion, intergenerational connection and other tangible skills that each of us can utilize to become allies in the fight against ageism.

Daralyse, Zack, and Dr. Makaroun revisit some of the key points from the first two episodes of the Ageism series, then respond to listener questions.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The importance of diversity of exposure in eliminating not just ageism, but all of the -isms that shape our perceptions of individuals and the groups they comprise.

The critical role of agency in maintaining personal identity, and how it relates to ageism.

How paternalism is NOT allyship, and the ways in which paternalistic attitudes hinder a person's agency.

The role that age has as an intersectional identity that interacts with and impacts all other elements of individual personhood.

The ways in which we can all become part of the solution as we work together to combat ageism, with a particular focus on older and younger folx.

The different ways in which ageism can be presented, overtly or implicitly, and how coming from a place of curiosity can eliminate our own ageist assumptions and biases.

The organizations referenced in this episode include:

Anti-ageist children's books we recommend:

To get in contact with Lena Makaroun, this episode's guest expert, email her at: or

Our guest in this episode is Dr. Lena Makaroun, MD MS:

Lena Makaroun is an Assistant Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Pepper Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh and a core investigator at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion. Dr. Makaroun's research focuses on social determinants of aging health and elder abuse. Specifically, her current work aims to broaden our understanding of multifaceted contributors to elder abuse, risk and susceptibility in order to improve elder abuse detection in the healthcare setting. Her goal is to develop evidence-based interventions to address elder abuse and improve health outcomes, safety and quality of life for this population. Dr. Makaroun completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania, M.D. at Weil Cornell Medical College and M.S. in Health Services at the University of Washington School of Public Health. In addition to her research, Dr. Makaroun loves caring for older veterans in her geriatrics clinic at the VA. She serves on the Board of Directors for the American Geriatric Society where she is co-chairing the society's Intersection of Structural Racism and Ageism in Healthcare initiative and is an associate editor for the journal: Innovation in Aging.

Click for the episode transcript.

In the 9th episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast follows host Daralyse Lyons as she dives deeper into Ageism as it is interwoven into the fabric of American society. Daralyse is joined by gerontologists, activists, and researchers for an in-depth examination of the implications that ageism has on both our personal lives and how we operate within society at large. None of us are immune to ageism, especially older and younger individuals. While the previous episode focused on the abuses caused by ageism, this episode offers tangible suggestions for overcoming ageism in ourselves and in others.

In this episode, you will learn about:

How markers such as a person's age can be reframed through inclusive language.

The importance of recognizing and understanding someone's entire lived experience, and appreciating the myriad ways our accumulated experiences shape each of us as individuals.

The societal forces that are needed in order to make our society more age-inclusive.

The direct links between how a person perceives their own age, and its impact on their overall health and well-being.

Ageism's role in furthering capitalism and whiteness, and how if unchecked, it can promote other -isms as well.

Our guests in this episode include:

Ryan Backer - Ryan is the co-creator of OldSchool, an anti-ageism clearinghouse. He is an age activist striving to undo ageism within an intersectional framework. They aim to eradicate ageism, along with white supremacy, gender bias, ableism, body shaming, homophobia, classism and all other forms of oppression.

Lena Makaroun - Lena is an ex-officio board member with the American Geriatrics Society, a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of older people, is a Geriatrician and Research Fellow who also sees patients at the VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion in Pittsburgh. She studies the intersection between health policy and health equity, with a particular interest in assessing the social determinants of aging on health and in reducing and preventing elder abuse.

Trish D'Antonio - Trish is the Vice President of Policy and Professional Affairs for the Gerontological Society of America, an organization that is dedicated to supporting individuals in living meaningful lives as they age, something which requires a multidisciplinary and intersectional approach.

Mia Mullen & Kiersten Jacobs - Two members of LeadingAge's executive team, Mia is LeadingAge's Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives and Kiersten is Senior Director of Shared Learning Initiatives. Together, they work to address the effectiveness of internal and external initiatives and to advance LeadingAge's ageism work, with a strategic focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Theresa Reid - Having spent much of her working life in the nonprofit sector, Theresa has spent time to establish and then run the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, The Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, ArtsEngine and Living Arts and the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities. She has chaired her county's chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. And she is the innovator behind Aging For Life. Theresa sees the connections between social neglect and insufficient resources early in life and the ways these failures haunt us throughout the life course.

Kyrié Carpenter - One of the co-founders of OldSchool, Kyrie has worked to shift the tragedy-only narrative of ageism and dementia through her work on the ChangingAging tour. Prior to ChangingAging, she worked with elders living in long-term care and she wrote her thesis on the Anti-Aging Myth in America.

Lise Jamison - Lise is a licensed clinical social worker and Executive Director of At Home In Greenwich, a nonprofit membership organization that supports older folks in remaining at home as long as they choose to do so and that provides everything from community engagement to structures of support for individuals as they age.

Talia Kaplan - a student, a gymnast, a daughter, a sister, and a huge proponent of intergenerational relationships.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

The 8th episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast follows host Daralyse Lyons as she explores the implications of Ageism and the abuse that is interwoven into the fabric of American society. She is joined by gerontologists, activists, and researchers for an in-depth examination of the implications that ageism has on both our personal lives and how we operate within society at large. None of us are immune to ageism, especially older and younger individuals.

In this episode, you will learn about:

Ageism's far reaching implications, and how every person is simultaneously the victim of, and a perpetrator of ageist views, actions, etc.

How ageism, being something that no one is immune to, creates inherent intersectionality in our identities for all of us.

The importance of factoring an individual's entire life experiences into their identity, and not just their age.

The critical role of autonomy in an individual's life experience and humanity.

The insidious nature of ageism, and that abuse is typically perpetrated by those we know, rather than by strangers.

Our guests in this episode include:

Ryan Backer - Ryan is the co-creator of OldSchool, an anti-ageism clearinghouse. He is an age activist striving to undo ageism within an intersectional framework. They aim to eradicate ageism, along with white supremacy, gender bias, ableism, body shaming, homophobia, classism and all other forms of oppression.

Lena Makaroun - Lena is an ex-officio board member with the American Geriatrics Society, a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of older people, is a Geriatrician and Research Fellow who also sees patients at the VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion in Pittsburgh. She studies the intersection between health policy and health equity, with a particular interest in assessing the social determinants of aging on health and in reducing and preventing elder abuse.

Trish D'Antonio - Trish is the Vice President of Policy and Professional Affairs for the Gerontological Society of America, an organization that is dedicated to supporting individuals in living meaningful lives as they age, something which requires a multidisciplinary and intersectional approach.

Mia Mullen & Kirsten Jacobs - Two members of LeadingAge's executive team, Mia is LeadingAge's Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives and Kirsten is Senior Director of Shared Learning Initiatives. Together, they work to address the effectiveness of internal and external initiatives and to advance LeadingAge's ageism work, with a strategic focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Theresa Reid - Having spent much of her working life in the nonprofit sector, Theresa has spent time to establish and then run the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, The Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, ArtsEngine and Living Arts and the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities. She has chaired her county's chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. And she is the innovator behind Aging For Life. Theresa sees the connections between social neglect and insufficient resources early in life and the ways these failures haunt us throughout the life course.

Kyrié Carpenter - One of the co-founders of OldSchool, Kyrié has worked to shift the tragedy-only narrative of ageism and dementia through her work on the ChangingAging tour. Prior to ChangingAging, she worked with elders living in long-term care and she wrote her thesis on the Anti-Aging Myth in America.

Lise Jamison - Lise is a licensed clinical social worker and Executive Director of At Home In Greenwich, a nonprofit membership organization that supports older folks in remaining at home as long as they choose to do so and that provides everything from community engagement to structures of support for individuals as they age.

Talia Kaplan - a student, a gymnast, a daughter, a sister, and a huge proponent of intergenerational relationships.

Rob Lawless - Writer who over the course of the last six years has been on a mission to make 10,000 friends through hour-long individual conversations with people with a myriad of experiences and perspectives.

Emily Anderson - Emily is a marketing director and lifestyle expert turned human-centered designer and coding teacher for Girls Who Code.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

On this installment of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, Daralyse Lyons and Zack James explore the themes and takeaways from the three-episode Black Voices series. Joined by Temple University's Dr. Jonathan Howe, this Q&A episode is a powerful discussion of dynamics of power and of pain. In this interview, Dr. Howe expounds upon the lessons learned in the Black Voices series, and also speaks directly to how the Black community continues to be impacted by the ongoing amplification of whiteness. The conversation touches on the series' central focus of facing pain as a means of embracing identity and cultivating joy.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The role that pain has in shaping the experience of both a person and a group of people as a whole, and how the willingness to face that pain can make the difference in overcoming it.

The importance of storytelling, in cultivating individual and shared identity, as well as in eliminating erasure.

The power that love holds in transcending barriers and differences in creating unity, equity and belonging.

The role that sports can play in creating social change, and why they can't be solely relied upon to do so.

The harmful effects of lowered expectations on the Black community, and their far-reaching effects.

More on our guest this episode:

Dr. Jonathan Howe - Dr. Howe's research centers broadly on the intersection of race, sport, and education. Within these intersections, Dr. Howe focuses on Black male college athletes, as well as Black coaches and athletic administrators. His research with Black male college athletes centers on race along with identity development, and self-presentation.

Related to Black athletic coaches and administrators, Dr. Howe examines their racialized experiences as they operate in predominantly historically white spaces. Dr. Howe has presented his work at national and international conferences and his work has been published in numerous academic journals. Dr. Howe earned his PhD in Educational Studies with a focus on Higher Education and Student Affairs from the Ohio State University.

He obtained his Master's of Science degree in Sports Management and Bachelor's of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He currently teaches and conducts research from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

The 7th episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast follows Daralyse Lyons in the third and final installment of a 3-episode series exploring Black experiences, past and present. In this episode, Daralyse explores Black Joy, Success, Culture, and Community. Through personal narratives, interviews, and research, Daralyse and those who generously leant their voices to this episode explore the ways in which Black people have found and continue to develop personal and cultural identity through community and determination. This episode draws heavily upon the personal experiences of those who have persisted through daunting discrimination to become leaders in business, art, academia, and so much more.

In this episode, you will learn about:

How determination, grit, and risk-taking has enabled Black people of all different life experiences to achieve their goals despite discrimination.

The power of giving back - reaching backwards to support others that are choosing a similar path as the one you've personally traveled.

The power of love as a unifying force of creation for the Black community and everyone else.

How mentorship and community can be deciding factors in the trajectory and scope of someone's success.

How understanding one's personal identity and experiences is a process, cultivated over time, through a lifetime of work, relationships and experiences.

This episode's guests include:

Don Wyatt - The John M. McCardell Jr. Distinguished professor at Middlebury College, he is an expert in Asian Studies, with a primary concentration in China. Don is currently working on a history of foreign slaves in Imperial China. His lived experiences growing up in a racially-divided Midwest town lend to his expertise in this area.

Kweisi Ausar - Kweisi is an expert in workplace spirituality and other topics related to human dynamics in organizations. He specializes in empowering individuals to transcend undesirable, dysfunctional, and harmful conditioning by cultivating spiritual competencies that are designed to increase mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Ghetto Don Visionary - Ghetto Don Visionary is a New York City-based Reggae artist whose music and art is inspired and informed by contemporary events, spirituality, and a willingness to examine racism as an addiction.Through songs like Racist Anonymous and Racism Vaccine, Ghetto Don Visionary invites listeners to confront the dynamics that keep racism alive both within the United States and within themselves.

William Tyrone Toms - The Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer of REC Philly, a multi-million dollar creative hub and incubator based in Philadelphia, Will was recently named one of Forbes 30 under 30. His mission through REC Philly is to create business ownership for the Black community in Philadelphia, a city in which the population is over 40% Black, but less than 4% of businesses are Black-owned.

Latoya C Smith - Latoya is an editor and literary agent. She has established her own entrepreneurial endeavor as a full-time editor and literary agent after starting her career working for big publishing houses. She is also host Daralyse Lyons' literary agent.

Britany Chung Campbell - Brittany is a book coach and sensitivity reader who helps coaches, consultants and entrepreneurs go from an idea to a compelling book with consistent sales, and specializes in amplifying the voices of authors with historically marginalized voices.

Brittany Monet - A R&B/pop/soul singer, and artist behind the song Better that serves as the theme music for Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast. Better was inspired by, and recorded in direct response to the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020.

Don Trahan - Don Trahan is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, approved Clinical Supervisor Professor, international consultant and global leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion change management and known professionally as Dr. Don. At 35 years old he holds 5 degrees, 2 of which are doctorates. Dr. Don is an expert in intersectional descrimination, in the form of racism and ageism, supporting organizations in shifting harmful dynamics for their workforces.

Jette Stubbs - Jette is a Career & Business Coach, creator of The Happy Career Formula, and co-creator of Mosaic Untold Lives: Secrets and True Stories From Women of Colour. Her experiences in the corporate world shape and inform much of the work she does today.

Hookz - Hookz is a New York City-based, Haitian American musician, producer, rapper and long-time music industry professional. Having started in the music business at the age of 15, Hookz is an expert in the ways in which the industry exploits young artists, particularly those of color, for short-term profit.

Daneil Chambers - A lifelong student with multiple degrees and a passion for learning, Daneil Chambers considers her primary identity to be that of problem-solver. She has made it her mission to think critically and constructively about ways to support positive social change. The founder of ISpy Injustice, she hopes to inspire others to take an active role in dismantling unjust systems and in sharing stories that inspire empathy and cross-cultural understanding.

Channing Gerard Joseph - Channing teaches at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He is an award-winning journalist whose byline has appeared around the globe. Channing is a proud descendant of the enslaved people who built America and gave it soul, and has done research to trace his ancestry back to the exact slave auctions in which his ancestors were bought and sold - including the one in which his family's freedom was purchased.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

The 6th episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast follows Daralyse Lyons in the second installment of a 3-episode series exploring Black experiences, past and present. In this episode, Daralyse explores Black Pain: The Enduring Impact of Racism. Through personal narratives, interviews, and research, she and her guests expound upon the myriad ways in which Black people are overtly, subtly and systemically suppressed. Through this episode, you will learn more about the long-reaching psychological, emotional, and spiritual ramifications that bigoted structures create and hear from those with life-experiences of persecution and pain.

In this episode, you will learn about:

How discrimination can exist subtly, or overtly, and how racism is not and never has been a singular phenomenon.

The importance of safe spaces for sharing within Black culture, and the ways in which art, media, sports, music and other avenues for creativity offer an outlet for many Black folx.

The unfair pressure that many Black people face to perform at a higher level than their white counterparts, in order to enjoy a similar level of recognition, opportunity and success.

The importance of historical events such as the murder of George Floyd.

The ways in which racism is used to control Black narratives and to dictate the stories Black folx tell about their own lived experiences.

The expectations that white culture has on Black artists to produce work that conforms to a certain narrative in order to be taken seriously.

Why belonging is just as crucial to creating change as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training work within any school, business, or organization.

Our guests in this episode include:

Don Wyatt - The John M. McCardell Jr. Distinguished professor at Middlebury College, he is an expert in Asian Studies, with a primary concentration in China. Don is currently working on a history of foreign slaves in Imperial China. His lived experiences growing up in a racially-divided Midwest town lend to his expertise in this area.

Walter Johnson - A former computer programmer, systems engineer and technical instructor who spent two years serving in the United States Army. In 1962, Walter became a computer programmer for the City of Philadelphia, and in 1966 he was hired by IBM as the first Black Systems Engineer in the Banking Marketing Office. Walter is also Demystifying Diversity Podcast Partner Zack James' uncle.

Kweisi Ausar - Kweisi is an expert in workplace spirituality and other topics related to human dynamics in organizations. He specializes in empowering individuals to transcend undesirable, dysfunctional, and harmful conditioning by cultivating spiritual competencies that are designed to increase mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Anthony Stevenson - Dr. Stevenson is currently the Principal of Radnor Elementary School in Wayne, Pennsylvania and an Adjunct Professor at Rowan University, Temple University and Villanova University. In 2017, Dr. Stevenson was elected to serve on the Board of Commissioners for the Lower Merion (PA) Township where he has been serving ever since.

Ghetto Don Visionary - Ghetto Don Visionary is a New York City-based Reggae artist whose music and art is inspired and informed by contemporary events, spirituality, and a willingness to examine racism as an addiction.Through songs like Racist Anonymous and Racism Vaccine, Ghetto Don Visionary invites listeners to confront the dynamics that keep racism alive both within the United States and within themselves.

William Tyrone Toms - The Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer of REC Philly, a multi-million dollar creative hub and incubator based in Philadelphia, Will was recently named one of Forbes 30 under 30. His mission through REC Philly is to create business ownership for the Black community in Philadelphia, a city in which the population is over 40% Black, but less than 4% of businesses are Black-owned.

Latoya C Smith - Latoya is an editor and literary agent. She has established her own entrepreneurial endeavor as a full-time editor and literary agent after starting her career working for big publishing houses. She is also host Daralyse Lyons' literary agent.

Brittany Chung Campbell - Brittany is a book coach and sensitivity reader who helps coaches, consultants and entrepreneurs go from an idea to a compelling book with consistent sales, and specializes in amplifying the voices of authors with historically marginalized voices.

Brittany Monet - A R&B/pop/soul singer, and artist behind the song Better that serves as the theme music for Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast. Better was inspired by, and recorded in direct response to the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020.

Don Trahan - Don Trahan is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, approved Clinical Supervisor Professor, international consultant and global leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion change management and known professionally as Dr. Don. At 35 years old he holds 5 degrees, 2 of which are doctorates. Dr. Don is an expert in intersectional descrimination, in the form of racism and ageism, supporting organizations in shifting harmful dynamics for their workforces.

Jette Stubbs - Jette is a Career & Business Coach, creator of The Happy Career Formula, and co-creator of Mosaic Untold Lives: Secrets and True Stories From Women of Colour. Her experiences in the corporate world shape and inform much of the work she does today.

Hookz - Hookz is a New York City-based, Haitian American musician, producer, rapper and long-time music industry professional. Having started in the music business at the age of 15, Hookz is an expert in the ways in which the industry exploits young artists, particularly those of color, for short-term profit.

Daneil Chambers - A lifelong student with multiple degrees and a passion for learning, Daneil Chambers considers her primary identity to be that of problem-solver. She has made it her mission to think critically and constructively about ways to support positive social change. The founder of ISpy Injustice, she hopes to inspire others to take an active role in dismantling unjust systems and in sharing stories that inspire empathy and cross-cultural understanding.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.