The Diverse Minds Podcast

Welcome to the 282nd episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! As part of June for June and Loneliness Awareness Week, I explore the challenging experience of being "the only one in the room" - whether that's being the only female, global majority person, LGBTQ+ person, disabled person, or parent in your workplace.

I discuss how isolation and tokenism impact mental health and wellbeing, and provide practical strategies for creating more inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and heard.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

• How workplace loneliness and isolation damage mental health, productivity and career prospects [01:55]
• Effective approaches to reduce workplace isolation and build inclusive environments [03:07]
• Real-world scenarios and personal stories of feeling like the only one [04:15]
• The harmful effects of tokenism and the importance of authentic representation [06:20]
• Practical steps for fostering genuinely inclusive workplace cultures [08:26]

• We can't have people feeling isolated in their workplaces, surrounded by groupthink.
• Micro affirmation focuses on genuinely affirming someone's contribution and value.
• Being the lone voice in a room is tough. It's isolating, it's excluding; many of us have been there on many different occasions.
• When we feel part of a positive workplace community or any kind of community, our well-being increases.
• Creating the kind of environment where people don't feel like they're the only one is not only beneficial for individual employees but also boosts morale, engagement and retention across the organisation.

• Listen to Episode 282: Identifying White Dominant Norms
• What it's like to be the only black person in the room
• I’m Disabled & I Refuse To Be Your Inspiration
• Download the free 200-episode guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

.stk-d762e95 {height:30px !important;}

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: http://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

.stk-1ca2f54 {height:30px !important;}

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.

Welcome to the 281st episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, as part of Loneliness Awareness Week, I delve into the profound impact of loneliness in the workplace. I discuss the different types of loneliness, examine research findings on workplace isolation, and provide practical strategies for creating more connected and supportive work environments.

• Defining loneliness vs. being alone. [01:35]
• Types of loneliness, statistics and impact on physical health. [02.30]
• Workplace loneliness statistics. [04:43]
• Leading causes of workplace loneliness. [07:54]
• Practical solutions to build a positive workplace culture and communication. [10:31]

• Loneliness is a perceived mismatch between the quality or quantity of social connections a person has and what they would like to have.
• You don't have to be on your own to feel lonely.
• When we feel part of a positive workplace community, our well-being increases.
• Loneliness at work is quite a forgotten, unknown, thought about area, but it's vital to ensure employees' wellbeing.
• Creating a positive environment is not only beneficial for individual employees, but also boosts morale, engagement and retention across an organisation.

• The Jo Cox Report on Loneliness
• Campaign to End Loneliness website
• British Red Cross Loneliness at Work Report
• Loneliness Awareness Week website
• People Insight Loneliness at Work research
• Download the free 200-episode guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 280th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, I dive into the vital role of community in supporting mental health and wellbeing.

I explore how communities foster belonging, safety, and purpose, the challenges they face due to societal changes, and actionable ways to strengthen local and workplace communities.

• The importance of community for mental health and wellbeing [01:30]
• Defining community through the Co-op’s Community Wellbeing Index [04:15]
• Challenges facing communities, including funding cuts and mental health service gaps [07:20]
• Practical ways to support and build local communities [12:05]
• Benefits of fostering community in workplaces and beyond [13:03]

.stk-91ebae5 {height:30px !important;}

• Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and well-being. And we do thrive when we have strong connections.
• A workplace community fosters employees' sense of belonging, trust, and unity.
• Work has a very important part to play in ensuring that we have that community and that sense of belonging at work.
• Mental well-being and health are everyone's responsibility.
• Perceived hard topics are the ones we need to be addressing, as avoiding them won't make them go away.

.stk-ba39a0c {height:30px !important;}

• What is the Community Wellbeing Index?
• The Five Essential Elements of Well-Being
• Five Ways to Wellbeing during Coronavirus restrictions
• Download the free 200-episode guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

.stk-0a30c05 {height:30px !important;}

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

.stk-d762e95 {height:30px !important;}

In this episode, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, I explore the theme of "community" and its vital role in supporting mental health in the workplace.

I discuss why community is essential for wellbeing, how recent societal changes have affected our communities, and practical ways organisations can build supportive workplace communities.

.stk-6672c06 {height:30px !important;}

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

.stk-d6d5d95 {height:30px !important;}

• The importance of community for mental health and wellbeing [01:30]
• How to define community and its various dimensions [04:15]
• The impact of splintered communities on public health [07:20]
• What makes a positive workplace community [09:45]
• Benefits of workplace community for mental health [12:30]

.stk-91ebae5 {height:30px !important;}

• Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and well-being. And we do thrive when we have strong connections."
• A workplace community fosters employees' sense of belonging, trust, and unity.
• "Work has a very important part to play in ensuring that we have that community and that sense of belonging at work.
• Mental well-being and health are everyone's responsibility.
• Perceived hard topics are the ones we need to be addressing, as avoiding them won't make them go away.

.stk-ba39a0c {height:30px !important;}

• Listen to Episode #245: What is Psychological Safety at Work?
• Mental Health Awareness Week
• How to Handle Stressful Thoughts
• Download the free 200-episode guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

.stk-0a30c05 {height:30px !important;}

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

.stk-d762e95 {height:30px !important;}

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: http://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

.stk-1ca2f54 {height:30px !important;}

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.

Welcome to the 278th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds Podcast! In this episode, as part of Stress Awareness Month, I explore the stress associated with sharing personal data, particularly equal opportunity information in the workplace. I discuss why data collection is important, its challenges, and how organisations can approach it more effectively.

• Why equal ops data collection matters in workplaces [02:05]
• The emotional burden and stress of completing equal opportunities forms [04:25]
• Privacy concerns and fears about data misuse [06:30]
• How unclear communication about data usage discourages sharing [08:15]
• Practical strategies for organisations to improve data collection [10:20]
• The importance of transparency in building trust around data collection [12:45]

.stk-91ebae5 {height:30px !important;}

• Equal opportunities data should be collected to monitor and address potential disparities, shape policies and procedures, and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
• We don't fit neatly as humans into neat boxes, so it can feel very clinical to tick a box about our lived experience.
• Creating an equitable environment benefits individual employees and boosts morale, engagement, and retention across an organisation.
• Be very clear and intentional about how and why you are collecting data, as well as how it will be used going forward.
• You want to make it clear that completing the form is voluntary, but that the data helps with creating a more equitable workplace for everyone.

.stk-ba39a0c {height:30px !important;}

• Listen to episode #277: Why Your Workplace Shouldn't Be a Family
• Check out episode #188: The Top 5 Inclusion Workplace Mistakes
• Download the free 200-episode guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: http://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

.stk-1ca2f54 {height:30px !important;}

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.

Welcome to the 277th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds Podcast! In this episode, as part of Stress Awareness Month, I dive into why your workplace shouldn't be like a family. I explore how family dynamics in the workplace can create unspoken challenges and how a more professional, accountable work community can enhance workplace wellbeing and productivity.

.stk-6672c06 {height:30px !important;}

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

.stk-d6d5d95 {height:30px !important;}

• Why aiming for a "family-like" culture can lead to role confusion, lack of accountability, and toxicity [03:45]
• The impact of family dynamics on workplace conflict management and emotional baggage [08:00]
• The importance of creating a professional, accountable workplace community [12:30]
• How team charters and clear expectations can improve organizational culture and reduce stress [15:50]
• Support for employees dealing with personal challenges and their impact on work [19:15]

.stk-91ebae5 {height:30px !important;}

• Family-like cultures in the workplace can lead to role confusion and a lack of accountability, making it difficult for people to break free from roles they never asked for.
• In many families, there's poor conflict management, which can bleed into the workplace, causing unresolved tension and stress.
• We need a professional work community where clear policies and communication create an environment of respect, fairness, and support.
• A positive and productive workplace culture starts with creating clear standards, holding people accountable, and ensuring employees have the support they need."

.stk-ba39a0c {height:30px !important;}

• Listen to episode #276: The Stress of Patriarchy at Work
• Check out episode #188: The Top 5 Inclusion Workplace Mistakes
• Download the free 200-episode guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

.stk-0a30c05 {height:30px !important;}

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

.stk-d762e95 {height:30px !important;}

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: http://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

.stk-1ca2f54 {height:30px !important;}

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.

Welcome to the 276th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I explore how patriarchy in the workplace causes stress during Stress Awareness Month, examining systemic gender inequities and their impact on workplace wellbeing.

• Introduction to Stress Awareness Month and this year's theme: #LeadWithLove [01:05]
• Definition of patriarchy and its manifestations in the workplace [02:30]
• How patriarchal systems affect work-life balance and create additional burden for women [04:10]
• The impact on representation and leadership opportunities [05:18]
• Understanding what feminism actually means versus misconceptions [12:15]

.stk-91ebae5 {height:30px !important;}

• Patriarchy in the workplace manifests as systemic gender inequity, leading to issues like the glass or concrete ceiling, pay gaps, pension gaps, emotional labour discriminatory practices that hinder women's career advancement.
• Women face an uphill battle to prove their intelligence and commitment within the workplace.
• Feminism is a very broad range of sociopolitical movements and ideologies that advocate for the social, political and economic equality of the sexes, aiming to end sexism and achieve full gender equality and equity.
• Creating a positive environment with gender equity at its heart is not only beneficial for individual employees, but boosts morale, engagement and retention across an organization.
• We need to be very clear about what zero tolerance means. Zero tolerance and firing people for misogynistic behavior.

.stk-ba39a0c {height:30px !important;}

• Listen to episode #275: Women’s Mental Load at Work
• Check out episode #109: 8 ways to Create Culturally Inclusive Meetings
• Challenge patriarchy as you organize
• Gen Z boys and men more likely than baby boomers to believe feminism harmful, says poll
• Download the free 200-episode guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

.stk-0a30c05 {height:30px !important;}

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

.stk-d762e95 {height:30px !important;}

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: http://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

.stk-1ca2f54 {height:30px !important;}

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.

Welcome to the 275th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I dive into women's mental load at work during International Women's Month, exploring how invisible labor impacts women in the workplace and contributes to gender inequity.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

• The definition of mental load and its impact on women. [01:30]
• Women's "office housekeeping" resulting in non-promotable tasks. [02:43]
• Research from Kenya on how mental load impacts productivity. [05:21]
• Gender pay gap statistics from April 2024. [09:10]
• Practical steps to shift the dial on mental load in the workplace. [10:09]

• "Mental load" is the invisible labor involved in managing a household and family, which typically falls on women's shoulders.
• In the workplace, women do spend more time on non-promotable tasks than men.
• We need to stop putting the onus on women to set boundaries and push themselves forward. Everyone needs to take responsibility, but it's the system that needs to shift.
• Gender pay gaps mean less spending and a pensions pay gap too.
• Creating a positive and equitable environment is not only beneficial for individual employees, but it boosts morale, engagement and retention across an organization.

• Listen to Episode #221: Wellbeing in Parenting with Dr. Naomi Irvine
• Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant's research on Women doing Office Housework
• BBC Article: The extra shift': The unpaid emotional labour expected of women at work
• Research Paper: The impact of women's mental load on labor market outcomes - experimental evidence from Kenya
• Listen to Episode #274: Accelerate Action for ALL women
• Listen to Episode #185: Imposter Syndrome versus Frustration Syndrome
• Download the free 200-episode guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

.stk-0a30c05 {height:30px !important;}

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

.stk-d762e95 {height:30px !important;}

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: http://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

.stk-1ca2f54 {height:30px !important;}

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.

Welcome to the 274th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I explore the themes of this year's International Women's Month and International Women's Day (March 8th).

• The current state of gender equality and the need for urgent action. [01:35]
• Understanding the "Pink Kitten Heel Effect" in workplace initiatives. [08:16]
• Global policy areas needing transformation. [04:27]
• Success stories from Morocco's corporate board quotas. [13:58]
• Bolivia's achievements with 50% female lawmakers [16:37]

.stk-91ebae5 {height:30px !important;}

• At the current rate, full gender parity will not be achieved until 2158, which is about five generations from now.
• The pink kitten heel effect is the fun, often pink tokenistic things that happen around international women's day or in the workplace.
• Accelerating action goes beyond having a lovely event on the 8th of March. While we absolutely need to celebrate, we need to remember that basic rights and freedoms have to be fought for.
• Policy is the first step, but continuous radical action in a timely, speedy fashion is always needed.
• We must and have to learn from the global and grassroots movements, as opposed to commercialising the day as a concept.

.stk-ba39a0c {height:30px !important;}

• A big step forward for women’s leadership in Morocco
• US midterm elections: Why Bolivia’s lawmakers are 50% women
• You have to keep fighting”: Uruguayan Feminists Work to Build on their Gains
• The Lancet: Self-management of medical abortion in Uruguay
• Video from Kenya’s Activists: Watch here
• TBS News: Empowering women in Bangladesh
• UN Women Asia Pacific: Bangladesh laws protecting women’s rights
• Download the free 200 Episode Guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 273rd episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, host Leyla delves into the Wheel of Power/Privilege and its role in reshaping workplace equity.

• Exploring the Wheel of Power. [00:39]
• Understanding Systemic Power and Privilege. [01:35 ]
• A detailed breakdown of the wheel’s elements. [02:47 ]
• Applying the wheel in real-world scenarios. [04:47]
• Reflecting on personal identity and privilege. [11:12]

• We have to consider who holds power and what that power is.
• I always say that it’s people who are closer to societal power that will experience fewer barriers in life.
• If we really want to understand the barriers faced, we have to consider systemic advantage and disadvantage to really see change.
• The wheel is a really helpful tool that we can use to understand the dominant lens and the way that things might be done in our workplace.
• I think it’s really helpful to reflect on our own identity elements, where we experience advantage and disadvantage and how that might have changed throughout our life.

• Framework for Open and Reproducible Research Training
• Download the free 200 Episode Guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC