Demystifying Diversity

The 5th episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast follows Daralyse Lyons in the first of a 3-episode series exploring Black experiences, past and present. In the first episode, Daralyse explores Black History: From Slavery to Segregation. In doing so, she and her guests expound upon the importance of going beyond the history books and unearthing the lived experiences of those who have faced discrimmination first-hand, to bring light to the reality and relatability of their stories.

In this episode, you will learn about:

How discrimination can exist subtly, including in the lowered expectations an individual can have for those of another group.

The importance of exposure to diverse experiences at an early age, to normalize and educate people about the differences between individuals and groups within our society.

How the individual's story is crucial for intimately detailing the lived experience of a group of people.

How in the gaps caused by discrimination and prejudice, hope, community and pride in one's identity can be a source of support.

The dichotomy between pain and expression, and the interplay between systemic oppression and thriving creative output in a marginalized community.

Our guests in this episode include:

Channing Gerard Joseph - 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.

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.

Baba Doc - Baba Doc was a master drummer and percussionist, as well as an expert in the origins and the history of the drum to African-American culture - both in the diaspora and also in present day life. Baba Doc passed away soon after the recording of his interview for this episode.

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.

Noel George - Is a retired highschool teacher and athletic coach who also taught in prisons to help with reform and reeducation efforts. Noel and his wife have lived in Terrebone Parish, Louisiana, for most of their lives. He is the uncle of Founder and former Demystifying Diversity Podcast partner, AnnaMarie Jones.

Sadie Lewis George - Married to Noel George, Sadies is a retired educator and the author of the book “Separate But Unequal-Black Education and Life During Jim Crow in Terrebone Parish.” She draws from her experience in education as her classroom desegregated in 1969. She is the aunt of Founder and former Demystifying Diversity Podcast partner, AnnaMarie Jones.

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.

Bo-Dean Sanders - Bo-Dean is the author of Race Against, Against Race: My Journey of Diversity and Inclusion Through Sports, and a former collegiate football player first at Cheyney University, the oldest Historically Black College or University in America, then at Villanova University. He writes and speaks about diversity & inclusion in sports and the positive impact multiculturalism has had on his personal and professional relationships.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

In the second Q&A episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, hosts Daralyse Lyons and Zack James are joined by guest expert Dr. Caroline Heffernan, Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Sport and Recreation Management at Temple University. She holds degrees from Byrn Mawr College and the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and is a leading LGBTQ+ voice in the sports industry space.

Daralyse, Zack, and Caroline revisit some of the key points from episodes 3 and 4 of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, then respond to listener questions about LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Exclusion, and Identity.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The ever-evolving role that sports can and do play in creating both opportunities for inclusivity, as well as posing additional challenges to the LGBTQ+ community.

The importance of not only government intervention in creating protections for LGBTQ+ folks, but that of people in local communities demanding change.

How, at its best, intersectionality lends itself to people having complex, unique identities where factors such as sexual orientation, religion, etc. are not the dominant trait for how we view people.

How allyship is a “team sport,” and requires multiple groups playing together to create change for an impacted community.

How critically important “belonging” is to individuals and groups, and the far reaching costs of fighting for a sense of belonging when it is not present.

How, through an intersectional lens, members of marginalized groups can use what privilege they have to stand as allies for other discriminated people.

Resources for this episode include:

Article:

Article:

Article:

Follow Dr. Caroline Heffernan on Instagram:

To connect with Dr. Heffernan directly, email her at:

Our guests in this episode include:

Caroline Heffernan has intimate knowledge of inclusion and exclusion for LGBTQ+ folks and her work specializes in allyship leadership, sports, gender, and LGBTQ identity.

She is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Sport and Recreation Management at Temple University. Prior to coming to S.T.H.M, Dr. Heffernan successfully defended her doctoral dissertation on the application of allyship to gender in sports organization at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Her research work specializes in allyship in sport, gender in sport leadership and leadership. Dr. Heffernan's work has been published in sport management review and she earned her PhD in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Sport Management from the University of Minnesota and attained a Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Management from Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management.

She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

In the fourth episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons explores the ways in which multiple communities are coming together in ways that amplify love and inclusion. By exploring how the LGBTQ+ community, various faith communities, and assorted secular communities are working to increase LGBTQ+ safety and visibility, this episode focuses on effective inclusion practices, while also shining a light on the ways in which there is still room for growth.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The critical importance of intersectionality, what it is, and how it can support in creating inclusivity not just for LGBTQ+ folks, but for anyone.

The importance of partnerships between the LGBTQ+ and faith communities, and how both can be driving forces of identity.

Ideas for how to do the deep work of fully realizing your own, unique identity.

How championing people to honor and embrace all of who they are creates the most inclusive spaces, and prioritizes individuals over their isolated identity markers.

The importance of Pride, and other festivals that celebrate humanity in creating safe, inclusive and joyous spaces.

That there is no, one, singular experience of “identity.”

Our guests in this episode include:

Kasey Suffredini - CEO & National Campaign Director for Freedom For All Americans, a bipartisan organization whose mission it is to secure full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people nationwide. Kasey is a nationally recognized campaign strategist and expert in LGBTQ issue advocacy.

Cathy Renna - Kathy is the Principal of Target Cue and Communications Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force. Cathy has played a central role in shaping nearly all major issues affecting media representation of the LGBTQ+ community, from the beating death of Matthew Shepard in 1998 to the fight for marriage equality to working with the team that coordinated historic coverage for the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall.

Patrick Sammon - one of the co-authors and co-directors of the documentary CURED, which is an in depth illumination of the struggle between LGBTQ activists and advocates and the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from its manual of mental illness.

Britt East - Inspirational Speaker and Award-Winning, Best-Selling Author of “A Gay Man's Guide to Life: Get Real, Stand Tall and Take Your Place.”

Robyn Ochs - Educator, speaker, grassroots activist, and editor of Bi Women Quarterly and two Bi+ specific anthologies: the 42-country collection “Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World” and “RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men.”

Yuval David - Award-winning actor, host, filmmaker and advocate whose most recent work, a full-length documentary entitled “Wonderfully Made,” specifically engages with what he refers to as LGBTQ+R - which means, “LGBTQ + Religion.”

Reverend Naomi Washington-Leapheart - Director for Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs for the City of Philadelphia and former Faith Outreach Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force,

Angel Gravely - Bisexual educator, writer, speaker, and advocate based in the Philadelphia area. Since 2013, she has worked to bridge opportunity and knowledge gaps between marginalized and privileged communities by addressing LGBTQ+ issues from an intersectional lens.

Jen O'Ryan - the founder of Double Tall Consulting, and the author of “Inclusive AF: A Field Guide for Accidental Diversity Experts.”

Rayceen Pendarvis - "Queen of The Shameless Plug, the Empress of Pride and The Goddess of DC" is a father of five, grandfather of two and mother of many.

Reverend Rebecca Seely - Becca Seely is the executive director of The Vine NYC campus ministry network and its parent organization, Lutheran Ministries in Higher Education. She graduated from Yale Divinity School in 2012 with a Master of Divinity and also holds a Certificate in Advanced Theological Studies from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Currently, she serves students directly as co-pastor of LaMP, pastor of PRiSM, and as a chaplain at New York University.

Kelly Inviere - the author of Where the Light Shines Through: A Memoir in Poetry. She is a poet, author, and artist living in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

In the third episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons dives into the exclusionary forces at play against the LGBTQ+ community in both secular and spiritual communities. Daralyse also investigates the conflict that many LGBTQ+ folks face in finding adequate support within the LGBTQ+ community itself.

In this episode, you will learn about:

Past historical systemic exclusionary practices towards LGBTQ+ identifying people, and the harmful legacy that these practices have left to this day.

The struggle that LGBTQ+ people face in finding support within the LGBTQ+ community itself, particularly when it comes to Bi+ identity.

The other types of discrimination that LGBTQ+ people face around their race, age, religious beliefs, and other components that make up an individual's identity.

The ways that theological texts are being used as a weapon against LGBTQ+ individuals.

The role that faith communities currently play in uniting LGBTQ+ groups, and the greater potential for faith-based groups to give voice to LGBTQ+ identifying people.

The importance of passing protective legislation and the dangers of allowing organizations to refuse service or employment to individuals based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Our guests in this episode include:

Kasey Suffredini - CEO & National Campaign Director for Freedom For All Americans, a bipartisan organization whose mission it is to secure full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people nationwide. Kasey is a nationally recognized campaign strategist and expert in LGBTQ issue advocacy.

Cathy Renna - Kathy is the Principal of Target Cue and Communications Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force. Cathy has played a central role in shaping nearly all major issues affecting media representation of the LGBTQ+ community, from the beating death of Matthew Shepard in 1998 to the fight for marriage equality to working with the team that coordinated historic coverage for the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall.

Patrick Sammon - one of the co-authors and co-directors of the documentary CURED, which is an in depth illumination of the struggle between LGBTQ activists and advocates and the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from its manual of mental illness.

Britt East - Inspirational Speaker and Award-Winning, Best-Selling Author of “A Gay Man's Guide to Life: Get Real, Stand Tall and Take Your Place.”

Robyn Ochs - Educator, speaker, grassroots activist, and editor of Bi Women Quarterly and two Bi+ specific anthologies: the 42-country collection “Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World” and “RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men.”

Yuval David - Award-winning actor, host, filmmaker and advocate whose most recent work, a full-length documentary entitled “Wonderfully Made,” specifically engages with what he refers to as LGBTQ+R - which means, “LGBTQ + Religion.”

Reverend Naomi Washington-Leapheart - Director for Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs for the City of Philadelphia and former Faith Outreach Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force,

Angel Gravely - Bisexual educator, writer, speaker, and advocate based in the Philadelphia area. Since 2013, she has worked to bridge opportunity and knowledge gaps between marginalized and privileged communities by addressing LGBTQ+ issues from an intersectional lens.

Jen O'Ryan - the founder of Double Tall Consulting, and the author of “Inclusive AF: A Field Guide for Accidental Diversity Experts.”

Rayceen Pendarvis - "Queen of The Shameless Plug, the Empress of Pride and The Goddess of DC" is a father of five, grandfather of two and mother of many.

Reverend Rebecca Seely - Becca Seely is the executive director of The Vine NYC campus ministry network and its parent organization, Lutheran Ministries in Higher Education. She graduated from Yale Divinity School in 2012 with a Master of Divinity and also holds a Certificate in Advanced Theological Studies from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Currently, she serves students directly as co-pastor of LaMP, pastor of PRiSM, and as a chaplain at New York University.

Click for a full transcript of this episode.

In this Q&A episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, hosts Daralyse Lyons and Zack James are joined by guest expert and registered member of the Lenape Nation, Adam Waterbear DePaul as the three of them explore Indigenous identity and resilience.

Daralyse, Zack, and Adam revisit some of the key points from the first two episodes of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, then respond to listener questions.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The importance of Indigenous lands, and the role they play in forming part of an Indigenous group's shared identity.

The impact and role that racist mascots have, and the ethical questions posed when certain uses of tribal names are allowed to endure.

The Seven Generations Principle, and how the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land engender a communal responsibility in taking care of the environment.

The broader implications of environmental racism, and how we as consumers can circumnavigate supporting racist agricultural practices.

What it actually means to be Indigenous - not only as part of a tribe but as an individual.

The continuing impact of Covid-19 within Indigenous communities, and its far-reaching implications in silencing Indigenous voices.

How to be an ally and an accomplice, and the role YOU can play in amplifying Indigenous voices.

The resources referenced in this episode include:

to get involved, donate, or attend an event hosted by the Lenape Tribe.

To get in contact with Adam Waterbear DePaul, this episode's guest expert, email him at:

Our guests in this episode include:

Adam Water Bear DePaul: Adam is a tribal council member of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, where he also holds the position of story keeper and coordinator of the Rising Nation River Journey. Adam, co-curates the Lenape Cultural Center in Easton, Pennsylvania and to the exhibit, Existing Artistry, Enduring Presence: the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania at Temple University. He is a PhD candidate and instructor at Temple with a primary research area in Cultural and Mythological Studies. And he's also the co-founder and President of Native American and Indigenous Studies at Temple as well.

Click for the episode transcript.

In the second episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons continues her exploration of Indigenous Resilience - specifically the importance of Culture, Land and the Seven Generations Principle and how these factors have allowed Indigenous groups to withstand over 500 years of colonization and systemic oppression in North America.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The importance of Indigenous lands, and the role they play in forming part of an Indigenous group's shared identity.

The Seven Generations Principle, and how the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land engender a communal responsibility in taking care of the environment.

How whiteness and white concepts of ownership threaten the environment and humanity's future on this earth.

What it means to “lightly” or wrongfully claim Indigenous ancestry, and how that is harmful towards Indigenous well-being.

How art is, and will continue to be one of the most important mediums for Indigenous expression, identity, and presence in North American culture.

An extensive, 16-point list of how you can be an ally or accomplice in eradicating discriminatory practices against Indigenous peoples and groups.

The resources referenced in this episode include:

Our guests in this episode include:

Morgan Ridgeway: Morgan is a PhD candidate with graduate minors in queer and Indigenous studies whose research focuses on multitribal communities, decolonization strategies, and queer indigenous theory. They are also an artist who utilizes poetry, creative nonfiction, dance, and mixed media in order to disrupt linear, non-inclusive modalities of history-telling and to inspire themselves and others to reimagine what's possible.

Simon Moya-Smith: Simon is a contributing writer to NBC News and CNN, and is a registered member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. He works to bring light and awareness to issues that directly impact Indigenous communities.

Fern Anuenue Holland: Since receiving her Bachelor of Science with triple majors in Wildlife Management, Environmental Science and Marine Biology, Fern has worked as an environmental scientist and ecological consultant. She was instrumental in the development and passing of Bill 2491, a bill which regulates the agrochemical industry. You've likely seen her if you watched the well-known documentary "Poisoning Paradise."

Tessa McLean: Tessa is a Community Planner with a multidisciplinary background. An expert in sustainable energy practices and environmental justice, she brings indigenous knowledge, subject matter expertise, technical skills, and industry experience to community planning initiatives. She is also deeply committed to raising awareness about the plight of missing, murdered, and trafficked indigenous women.

Jaclyn Roessel: Jaclyn is the president of GrownUp Navajo, the co-founder of Native Women Lead, a writer, a curator, a coach and a cultural equity and justice consultant. She was the inaugural recipient of the Arizona Humanities Rising Star Award and has been named one of Phoenix's 100 Creatives You Should Know.

Charlene Teters: Charlene is a Spokane Tribal Member and is an educator, artist and lecturer whose paintings and installations have been featured in numerous collections and exhibitions. As the former Dean of the Institute of American Indian Arts, she spent much of her academic career working to ensure the education of future tribal leaders, innovators and artists.

Click for the episode transcript.

In the first episode of Season 2 of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, host Daralyse Lyons explores Indigenous Resilience, and just some of the far-reaching implications that systemic racism have had over 500 years of colonization and systemic oppression.

In this episode, you will learn:

How the proliferation and impact of crime against Indigenous people, particularly women and girls, is a major problem in and around lands that are supposed to be protected.

How the systemic erasure of Indigenous languages creates separation and isolation of those groups, weakening cultural and ancestral bonds.

The importance of art in articulating Indigenous perspectives, especially in instances where Indigenous individuals have been disenfranchised from their “seat at the table.”

The long-term consequences of participating in holidays that promote inaccurate narratives surrounding the Indigenous experience in the Americas.

The experiences, perspectives and challenges shared in this episode come from those who have witnessed, experienced and endured the struggles of systemic racism against Indigenous peoples, and are actively doing work to educate and remedy its far-reaching effects.

Our guests include:

Morgan Ridgeway: Morgan is a PhD candidate with graduate minors in queer and Indigenous studies whose research focuses on multitribal communities, decolonization strategies, and queer indigenous theory. They are also an artist who utilizes poetry, creative nonfiction, dance, and mixed media in order to disrupt linear, non-inclusive modalities of history-telling and to inspire themselves and others to reimagine what's possible.

Simon Moya-Smith: Simon is a contributing writer to NBC News and CNN, and is a registered member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. He works to bring light and awareness to issues that directly impact Indigenous communities.

Fern Anuenue Holland: Since receiving her Bachelor of Science with triple majors in Wildlife Management, Environmental Science and Marine Biology, Fern has worked as an environmental scientist and ecological consultant. She was instrumental in the development and passing of Bill 2491, a bill which regulates the agrochemical industry. You've likely seen her if you watched the well-known documentary "Poisoning Paradise."

Tessa McLean: Tessa is a Community Planner with a multidisciplinary background. An expert in sustainable energy practices and environmental justice, she brings indigenous knowledge, subject matter expertise, technical skills, and industry experience to community planning initiatives. She is also deeply committed to raising awareness about the plight of missing, murdered, and trafficked indigenous women.

Jaclyn Roessel: Jaclyn is the president of GrownUp Navajo, the co-founder of Native Women Lead, a writer, a curator, a coach and a cultural equity and justice consultant. She was the inaugural recipient of the Arizona Humanities Rising Star Award and has been named one of Phoenix's 100 Creatives You Should Know.

Charlene Teters: Charlene is a Spokane Tribal Member and is an educator, artist and lecturer whose paintings and installations have been featured in numerous collections and exhibitions. As the former Dean of the Institute of American Indian Arts, she spent much of her academic career working to ensure the education of future tribal leaders, innovators and artists.

Click for the full transcript of this episode.

The Demystifying Diversity Podcast is back for a second season! In Season Two, hosts, journalists and content-creators Daralyse Lyons and Zack James will amplify a variety of voices on a wide range of topics pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion. Topics that will be covered in-depth this season include Indigenous resilience, Black equity and ownership, the impacts of ageism, the importance of White allyship, the relationship between religion and the LGBTQ community, and how issues around diversity, equity and inclusion are shaped by and shape the sports landscape.

This trailer includes excerpts from some of the guest experts appearing in future episodes: Simon Moya-Smith, William (Will) Tyrone Toms, Mia Mullen, Ryan Honeyman, Reverend Becca Sealy, and Bo-Dean Sanders and features the song “Better” by Brittany Monet.

Click here for a PDF version of the trailer transcript:

In the final episode of Season One of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, Daralyse and AnnaMarie welcome their new partner, Zack James.

So much more than a typical Q&A episode, this episode reflects on the season as a whole and delves more deeply into the topics discussed in Episode 10: Interracial Marriage: A Celebration of the Evolution from Illegal to Accepted.

Daralyse, AnnaMarie and Zack share about what they've learned and invite listeners into their minds and hearts. They reflect on their individual journeys with interracial relationships and share their greatest takeaways from all of season one. They review how DEI is way wider than Black and White communities, how we are all interconnected, and how we must celebrate our differences without ever losing sight of our common humanity. They are open about their own blind spots and commit to the life-long learning and improvement that DEI work requires.

They also discuss what they are planning on doing for themselves personally in 2021 and share some exciting updates about season two. This is an episode you won't want to miss.

Make sure that you are subscribed to the Demystifying Diversity Podcast newsletter, following the podcast on social media @demystifyingdiversitypodcast, and keeping up to date with updates and announcements!

Learn more at:

Resources to explore:

Demystifying Diversity: Embracing Our Shared Humanity by Daralyse Lyons

Article: the magic number of people needed to create social change

Episode sponsor:

VitaSupreme. For 20% off your supplement order, visit vitasupreme.com/pages/diversity and enter the code: diversity

Temple University School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management

In this episode of the Demystifying Diversity Podcast, Daralyse Lyons explores the history of, and present day occurrences of, interracial love and marriages. She interviews eight interracial couples of various races, cultures, backgrounds, and sexual orientations. Throughout the episode, it becomes clear that, although every interracial couple has their own unique story, there is still something that they all share in common: six decades ago, their love would have been legally prohibited in certain states.

Interracial couples have pressed forward, and their doing so has helped shift public perceptions about interracial love. However, even in 2021, many interracial couples face mockery and scorn, and this came out in many of the interviews.

Now that people are free to marry across racial lines, cross-racial and cross-cultural unions have become more ubiquitous and more celebrated. The hope would be that love can melt away prejudice and bias, yet that is not always the case.

This episode illuminates that loving people for who they are requires seeing them for who they are and not superimposing our own judgments onto certain individuals or groups. Getting to know people in an authentic way and moving beyond incorrect assumptions requires more representation, visibility and allyship. This episode will challenge you to examine your biases and internalized racism. It is an invitation to deepen your investment in creating a world where love, in all its myriad expressions, is not only safe but celebrated.

Learn more at:

Resources to explore:

Demystifying Diversity: Embracing Our Shared Humanity by Daralyse Lyons

Voices Featured:

AnnaMarie and Chris Jones

Elizabeth Hasegawa Agresta and Thomas Agresta

Marissa and William Gwynn

Ashlee and Emmanuel Aouad

Sarah and Milind Gandhi

Malynda Hale and John Volk

Michelle (Chelle) Campos Velez and Armee Grace Campos

Nikky and Ben

Sponsors:

Temple University School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management

Next Level Trainings. For $50 off on Shift, their introductory virtual training (and a FREE voucher to their in-person Discovery training), go to and enter the promo code diversity.

Lavin & Associates, a branch of Primerica. Contact Jon Lavin directly at 610-453-2331 or email him at for a free Financial Needs Analysis.