Our True Colors: Mixed Race Voices and Other Stories of Belonging

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Katrina Strohl (they/them) served as an Aviation Structural Mechanic in the US Navy. In 2018, Katrina decided to take their own life after internalizing the behavior of an unsafe workplace. They now serve others through their work in psychological safety, mental health and boundary strategy for people who share their identities or their lived experiences.

This work includes Absolutely Not!, the weekly live podcast dedicated to providing examples of setting personal boundaries at work and the vocabulary needed to name harm in those spaces. Katrina is Black, Sāmoan and Queer and lives with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a Substance Use Disorder.

Heads up: This episode contains strong language.

In this episode, Katrina talks with Yolandie and me about the ambiguity...of racial ambiguity (did you catch that?). We also discuss how we can watch out for the characters of white supremacy culture - no matter how you racially identify. We also talk about how the media can influence how we see ourselves and how others see us.

Here are some other resources to check about topics mentioned in this episode:

• The term "Latinx" is used by just 3% ofUS Hispanics
• POC, WOC, BIPOC and other terms labeling people of color
• The Costs of Code-Switching

Don't forget to check out Dr. Gann's new book, Mixed Signals: A Multiracial Window into Civility and Belonging at Work available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

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Welcome to Season 4 of Our True Colors! I am happy to introduce my co-host for this season, Yolandie Hamilton. She'll be hangin' with us for the season, so get to know a little bit about her in this episode.

Yolandie Hamilton is a personal style and confidence coach, mom and proud to be the very interesting mix of Jamaica and Poland, with a lot of other stuff in there. She is passionate about giving women back to themselves through style and connecting with others to learn what they are passionate about. She also performs in community theatre and teaches kids improv at summer camps and in her words, has "an unquenchable desire to collect the shiny math rocks" otherwise known as really cool dice. She is excited to bring her perspective from small town Michigan to the show.

Don't forget to check out Dr. Gann's new book, Mixed Signals: A Multiracial Window into Civility and Belonging at Work available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

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Join Carmen and me as we talk about our experiences, what we've learned, and the takeaways from Season 3.

Don't forget to check out Dr. Gann's new book, Mixed Signals: A Multiracial Window into Civility and Belonging at Work available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

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Our guest this week is Stefanie Kurgatt. Stefanie was born in Eldoret, Kenya but moved to the states at a young age and most of her childhood was spent in Tallahassee, Fl. She attended Georgetown University, where she earned her B.S. in Healthcare Management/Policy and M.S. in Health Systems Administration. She holds a great interest in health disparities, community health, and social determinants of health and strives to increase access to care for the underserved. In her spare time, Stefanie loves to workout, go on runs and bike rides around DC, and cook. She loves being outside and going on different adventures/road trips. Most recently Stefanie embarked on her first backpacking trip and is excited for more outdoor adventures! 

In this episode, Stefanie talks with Carmen and me about her experiences going on her identity journey as a biracial immigrant and the confidence she has gained learning to accept and love herself for who she is and her desire for others recognize the whole person for who they are and all the goodness they bring to the table.

Don't forget to check out Dr. Gann's new book, Mixed Signals: A Multiracial Window into Civility and Belonging at Work available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

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Dr. Charletta Wilson is  an industrial & organizational psychologist, an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Certified Professional Coach, Global Team Coach, TEDx Speaker and Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator at CaPeesh Consulting LLC. For over two decades, she’s served thousands of clients in business startups, leadership and organizational development. In our interview, Dr. Wilson  shares stories of how she was introduced to colorism and how it parlayed with stories of not being good enough. With this talk, she is able to put language to hard experiences that may, otherwise, go unnoticed in our everyday biases.

Don't forget to check out Dr. Gann's new book, Mixed Signals: A Multiracial Window into Civility and Belonging at Work available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

MESSAGE ME HERE!

Haley and Megan are sisters who grew up in rural Louisiana. Haley is now a school psychologist working in South Louisiana. Megan lives in New Orleans and works in the film industry. These sisters love history and started making a list of historical figures who were mixed race a few year ago. Two years ago they decided to turn their list into a blog. Since then they’ve been adding more people to the list and sharing blog or Instagram posts about them. Some of the people on the list are well known historical figures who many don’t realize were mixed race, like Booker T Washington or Alexandre Dumas. Others are less well known, but still have incredible stories and accomplishments.

Don't forget to check out Dr. Gann's new book, Mixed Signals: A Multiracial Window into Civility and Belonging at Work available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

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In light of the continued violence against Asian communities around the US and, indeed, around the world; and in an effort to bring renewed awareness, I am bringing back an episode from earlier this year.

Daniel Quan-Watson, a high-ranking official in Canada's Public Service, has a unique blend of experiences. He's held the highest Canadian civil service position, is fluent in both English and French, has lived in 13 Canadian locations, traveled extensively across the country, authored long-lasting legislation, overseen a prominent National Parks system, and contributed to shaping Canada's responses to critical issues. Notably, he's the first Deputy Minister of Chinese-Canadian heritage in the federal government, akin to a US Undersecretary.

Mr. Quan-Watson, a diverse heritage, discusses his response to Rex Murphy's article on racism in Canada as our guest. See the links for more details.

REX MURPHY: Canada is not a racist country, despite what the Liberals say

DANIEL QUAN-WATSON: An Answer to Rex Murphy's Questions on Racism in Canada

Other enlightening reads:

• Self-Care Tips For Asian Americans Dealing With Racism Amid Coronavirus
• How to support Asian American colleagues amid the recent wave of anti-Asian violence
• What Racial Terms You Should Avoid
• Understanding the Stressors and Types of Discrimination That Can Affect Multiracial Individuals
• Biracial couple shares experience, advice on having conversations about race with children

Want to be a guest or know someone who should join us? Click this link to complete the guest interest form.

Don't forget to subscribe!

If this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show.

Our True Colors is sponsored by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization, and subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter, The Culture Clinic, for more great content. You can find us at truecultureconsulting.com where you can also contact us to schedule a free consultation.

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My guest this week is Nikki Innocent.  Nikki is a 2-time TEDx speaker, certified women’s leadership coach, diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) strategist and the host of the podcast Checkbox Other, that focuses on the journey toward belonging.

Five years ago, Nikki left behind her career in corporate America to live and lead fully as herself focusing on belonging, releasing the pressure to “fit in” and embracing the ways she differed as a creative, biracial, Millennial woman. Nikki’s work focuses on fostering a new generation of leaders looking to leverage their unique power and privilege to lead their lives authentically to make the future a more inclusive place.

In this episode, Nikki and I talk about her journey away from corporate America into her new adventure of entrepreneurship. We also talk about her experiences being "other" in a number of situations and how she helps leaders in organizations navigate tricky discussions. Following the interview, my co-host Carmen and I discuss "Cancel Culture" and "Calling In vs. Calling Out". Carmen shares this interesting NYT article about Loretta J. Ross, a professor at Smith College, who teaches a course  on the topic.

Don't forget to check out Dr. Gann's new book, Mixed Signals: A Multiracial Window into Civility and Belonging at Work available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

MESSAGE ME HERE!

My guest this week is Dr. Shantel Gabrieal Buggs. Dr. Buggs is an assistant professor of sociology and African American studies at Florida State University, specializing in research on multiracial identity, representation, and romantic, sexual, and family relationships. She is currently working on an edited collection of essays on "queering" consent for LGBTQ people in the #MeToo era and her first monograph on the online dating experiences of multiracial women in Central Texas. She's also collaborating on several other projects exploring race, gender, and inequality within higher education.

Her primary research agenda focuses on multiracial identity, family dynamics, and interracial relationships (race, gender, intimacy, culture), and she has written about the online dating experiences of self-identified multiracial and multiethnic women as well as other pieces such as how the BLM movement is shaping how women vet partners and how multiracial women view their relationships as interracial. 

Check out this episode where we discuss online dating and the future of the US in light of shifting demographics and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Don't forget to check out Dr. Gann's new book, Mixed Signals: A Multiracial Window into Civility and Belonging at Work available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

MESSAGE ME HERE!

Maris Lidaka is a filmmaker in Los Angeles and the creator of the Blended Future Project. Maris talks with me about his experience growing up mixed both in a mostly white suburb but also abroad in high school. This experience allowed him to gain some perspective on race and who he is.

Don't forget to check out Dr. Gann's new book, Mixed Signals: A Multiracial Window into Civility and Belonging at Work available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!