We're catching up with Chris Haigh, founder of True Change Associates, to discuss the dramatic shifts in DEI work over the past few years. From the surge of interest post-2020 to the current backlash, we explore what it means to do this work within a capitalist framework and whether it's even possible to create real change from within existing systems.

Chris shares Dr. Carmen Foster's powerful framework of the time-space continuum, a reminder that today's challenges are a blip in the larger arc toward justice. We discuss language shifts, the persistence of this work despite market pressures, and what the future might hold 10 years from now, including the role of AI in creating equitable workplaces.

This conversation is both a reality check and a beacon of hope for anyone navigating the complexity of DEI work in 2026.

0:00 - Intro and Felicia and Rachel chat about the state of the world
13:30 - Catching up with Chris: Where in the world & what's new
22:15 - DEI as an industry: Can it exist within capitalism?
32:40 - The 2020 surge and subsequent backlash
42:50 - Language shifts: From DEI to "culture" and "belonging"
48:20 - Islands of psychological safety: Doing the work where you can
55:10 - Companies still doing the work (quietly)
60:54 - The time-space continuum: Taking the long view
62:40 - Future of work: AI, humanity, and what's next
65:35 - How to connect with Chris & True Change Associates
66:48 - Wrap-up

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.