The first issue of Public Administration Review in 2024 includes work by early career scholars, Karen Sweeting (University of Rhode Island, USA) and Brittany "Brie" Haupt (Virginia Commonwealth University, USA).  In this podcast, the two discuss their research about the negative implications of neutrality in bureaucratic systems and public service. They explain neutrality as an organizational barrier that hinders centering the human experience and ensuring equity in outcomes. They propose an action-oriented, learning-focused approach to raise the consciousness of those in public service.