Folks! It is final episode of the season, and we’re coming in clutch.

We sat down for an important conversation around invisible disabilities with Jamila Rizvi. She also goes by 'Jam,' but in the spirit of decolonising language, we're saying her full name with intention. Jamila means beautiful and graceful in Arabic. And she effortlessly embodies both.

Jamila is a passionate advocate for equitable workplaces and uses her platform to push for change. At just 31, she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour, an experience that reshaped her relationship with work, intertwined with her own identity, her family and what it means to live with a disability.

We spoke about how organisations need to move beyond tick box policies and start humanising their spaces, the importance of lived experience to innovate and the tensions of building community in today’s digital world.

Jamila is the co-author of Broken Brains with Rosie Waterland, an essential read for anyone who’s been sick or loved someone who has. She’s also a bestselling author, broadcaster, speaker and currently the Deputy Managing Director at Future Women, where she’s actively championing gender equity across industries.

You can support and follow all her work here: https://www.jamilarizvi.com.au/

And while you are at it, throw some love this was too by following ⁠@notyourtokenhire⁠ on insta.

This is an independent, self-funded podcast. We can only make this happen through your support.

For us, by us.

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Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujarati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!

A conversation for the ages with Huda the Goddess, a creative force who uses improvised spoken word as a form of advocacy and to create new possibilities.

In this episode we talked about language as a tool of survival, the importance of centring Black voices and what building community actually looks like. Huda also shared about the evolution of Magandjin’s creative scene — from improvisation to curation, the unearthed talent that is brewing in our own backyards that is deserving of so much more and how art has always been political. We also unpacked anti-blackness, from the dehumanisation of Africans to challenging it within our own communities, especially as people of colour.

Huda the Goddess (Huda Fadlelmawla) is a proud Sudanese-Muslim woman who uses poetry to transcend spaces and places, she is the winner of the 2025 Les Murray Award, Australian Poetry Slam Champion 2022 as well as two time QLD champ. Huda is more than a slam poet, she is a community builder, dancer, vibe curator, hype woman, stand up comedian…(basically, what can't she do?!)

She is the founder of BlackInk, an open mic space centring Black artists while making safe spaces for people of colour to share their stories.

Learn more about upcoming events hosted by BlackInk here.

Show some love by following and supporting on instagram: Huda the Goddess and BlackInk

And while you are at it, throw some love this was too by following @notyourtokenhire on insta.

This is an independent, self-funded podcast. We can only make this happen through your support.

For us, by us.

___________

Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujarati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!

Okay, I know what you're thinking. What is a white guy doing on this podcast? Well, it's not just any white guy, he also happens to be gay (he told me to say that).

I sat down with comedian Tom around the same time that the Australian Federal Elections had wrapped. We unpacked the results, talked about why leftist and socialist movements need to better centre Indigenous folks & people of colour and what could get white people talking about racism. We also got into what’s broken about corporate DE&I, as I swapped some of my radical ideas for shaking up our workplaces.

Warning: this episode was recorded the day I started trialling my ADHD meds. And I was crashing towards the end of the episode. So the conversation kinda goes everywhere, and nowhere, but laughs were had and I think we solved racism.

Tom Ballard is an award-winning stand up comedian/actor/writer/broadcaster/person who always tries his best. He’s one of Australia’s hottest comic talents, he’s performed and won acclaim all around the world. He is the author of I, Millennial: One Snowflake's Screed Against Boomers, Billionaires and Everything Else and co-host of the Serious Danger podcast that talks about the broken political system in Australia. He is also a cool white guy.

Learn more about here: https://tomballard.com.au/

And while you are at it, show some love by following @notyourtokenhire on insta.

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Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujarati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!

Everything happening around the world right now is a timely reminder that Pride began as a protest, and now more than ever, we need to put the protest back into Pride.

In this special episode, we sat down with Jodie Hall, a proud Wakka Wakka trans woman and Digital Campaigner for the Trans Justice Project.

From white feminism to toxic masculinity, we talk about why trans folks continue to be viciously targeted and how that keeps the capitalist patriarchy in check. Jodie shares more about the importance of creating educational spaces to challenge the growing misinformation about trans communities. We also unpacked the issues with siloed progressive spaces, especially within white queer circles, while questioning whether being represented in mainstream feminism is something worth fighting for.

In addition to her work with the Trans Justice Project, Jodie Hall is dedicated to freedom and equality for all. She’s passionate about the power of communication and connection to build empathy and solidarity. Jodie is closely involved in the campaign to reinstate gender affirming care for young people in Queensland.
Learn more about her work with the Trans Justice Project here:
https://transjustice.org.au/

Follow:

The Trans Justice Project: https://www.instagram.com/transjusticeau

Jodie Hall: https://www.instagram.com/jodie__hall__/

And while you are at it, show some love by following @notyourtokenhire on insta.

___________

Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujarati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!

From perfectionism to burn out, gendered racism to navigating complex law reforms, we sat down with leading human rights and discrimination lawyer focused workplace culture reform to protecting the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, Prabha Nandagopal.

Prabha is no stranger to all the experiences many women of colour face in corporate and legal world. We spoke about the challenges of driving systemic change in predominantly white spaces, questioning what success looks like in a capitalist world, to building your own pathways, which led her to establish her own consulting company - Elevate consulting.

She is one of Australia’s foremost experts on immigration detention law and policy. In 2014, she led the landmark National Inquiry into Children in Detention. In 2020, she was a senior legal advisor to the Respect@Work National Inquiry and helped shape the positive duty regulatory scheme.

Learn more and support her:

Website: https://www.elevateconsultingpartners.com.au/team

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prabha_nandagopal

And while you are at it, show some love by following @notyourtokenhire on insta.

___________

Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujarati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!

This episode is in conversation with Emma Pei Yin, a British-born Hong Kong-Chinese author. Her debut novel, When Sleeping Women wake,  follows three women whose lives intersect within the resistance movement during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in World War II.

We spoke about who gets to tell our stories, the constant feeling of wanting to belong, but really not belonging as Third Culture Kids. And, the scarcity mindset that women of colour face when getting a seat at the table - representation feeling more like a burden than a breakthrough.

Emma is a regular contributor to the Mekong Review, The Hong Kong Review, Being Asian Australian, HerCanberra, Aniko Press and Books + Publishing. She is also the founder of Yinfluence editorial.

Learn more about her work and support her:

Website: https://www.emmapeiyin.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmapeiyin/

And while you are at it, show some love by following @notyourtokenhire on insta.

___________

Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujarati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!

Okay, I know we aren't meant to choose favourites, but this is might be one of my fav episodes yet. I had the honour to sit down with Prof. Chelsea Watego, a proud Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman, for a chat. We got into all things academia as an Indigenous scholar, why cultural awareness just isn't cutting it, and why we need to shift from this need to “research” Indigenous cultures, but to see it as possibilities that help us reimagine our collective futures, grounded in Indigenous sovereignty. And, bringing it all together through the power and necessity of Black Joy as a practice.

Prof. Chelsea Watego is a prolific writer, educator, thinker, activist - among many things. She is the author of Another Day in the Colony, director of the Institute of Collaborative Race Research (ICRR), Executive Director of QUT's Carumba institute - providing a world class Indigenous research and educational environment that foregrounds Indigenous sovereignty, and most importantly, a proud mum to five beautiful children.

You can follow and support her work here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/little_miss_watego/

Website: https://chelseawatego.au/

Carumba Institute: https://www.qut.edu.au/research/carumba-institute

And while you are at it, follow @notyourtokenhire on the gram.

___________

Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujarati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!

This episode explores all things life coaching. Starting with questioning it all, what is life coaching really all about? Is it another pyramid scheme that tells you to manifest your way to success? Or, do we all have to wake up at 5am, hit the gym to reach our goals?

We sat with Leslie Crudup Villagarcia, a certified life coach to talk about her journey in this space, from the overly toxic positive messaging to spiritual bypassing and why it needs to adopt a holistic understanding that doesn't ignore neurodivergent folks and co-opt the cultures of racially marginalised individuals.

Leslie is a proud queer, polyamorous woman, an ally for marginalised groups, and an outspoken advocate for racial and social equity. As a 'no nonsense' life coach, her approach is to guide people through an holistic, intersectional lens. She's also the host of the podcast, 'Thriving between the lines' which examines personal development books through the lens of intersectionality, making self help content more accessible and relatable.

Check out her website: https://leslievcoaching.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslievcoaching/

And while you are at it, follow @notyourtokenhire on the gram.

___________

Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujarati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning performative activism and if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!

Episode 4 takes us on Shyaire's journey as the 'funny, foreign, queer' girl. We talk about who gets to be an individual, who gets to explore their creativity, and why do we feel that we can only call ourselves writers once we are acknowledged by white publishers and colonial institutions?

Shyaire is a writer, a comedian, slam poet, speaker, with a knack for turning stereotypes on their head. The brainchild behind the monthly comedy show, 'Funny For Comedy.' She also produced and performed at Edinburgh Fringe with a successful show featured on BBC Asia, Brown Women Comedy. Shy will be publishing two books in 2025 (fiction and poetry) thanks to a Creative Australia grant.

Learn more about Shy and support her work:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shyreesays/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shyaire/

And while you are at it, follow @notyourtokenhire on the gram.

___________

Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujurati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning performative activism and if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!

We're back with another episode and this time we are talking about the cultural appropriation of the yoga & wellness industry. We are joined by Ruhee – a certified yoga teacher from India and the founder of Allied Collective, Australia's first inclusive and wellbeing facilitation agency. We unpack the co-option of a 5000 year old spiritual practice and why yoga is a lot more than "namastay in bed" t-shirts and overpriced yoga pants. Ruhee also gets real about her own journey as a yoga teacher and the challenges she faced breaking into the industry in Australia.

Enjoyed the episode? Hit like, subscribe and give us a rating.

Learn more about Ruhee's work:

www.alliedcollective.com.au

Follow her on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliedcollective

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruheem/

And while you are at it, follow @notyourtokenhire on the gram.

___________

Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujurati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning performative activism and if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!