The Diverse Minds Podcast

Welcome to the 272nd episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, we explore the crucial distinction between policy models and liberation models in equity, diversity, and inclusion work.

• Understanding policy vs liberation models in EDI. [02:15]
• Why policy models alone don’t create lasting change. [05:30]
• The limitations of data-driven approaches. [09:45]
• How liberation models empower communities. [12:20]
• Practical examples of liberation in education. [15:35]

• We can write the best policies in the world, but often they sit on dusty e-shelves.
• Humans are pack animals. There is so much strength in numbers and in communities.
• A policy model might look at the existing structures to mitigate issues and not address the root causes.
• Liberation models are about delving into and dismantling oppression. Policy models are about making the current system a bit better.
• If you put a ramp in front of a building, it helps wheelchair users, but it also helps someone with a heavy bag, someone on crutches, and people with prams.

• Listen to the last episode of the podcast Episode #128 on Reciprocity in a Mentoring Relationship
• Check out my series on white dominant norms
• Talent liberation
• 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 271st episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I talk about identifying and evaluating genuine workplace well-being cultures, which is significant for those seeking new roles after recent redundancies.

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

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• An Introduction to why workplace wellbeing culture matters in light of recent redundancies. [02:15]
• Why "tokenistic" wellbeing initiatives don't work. [04:30]
• An example of successful well-being implementation at ASOS. [08:45]
• Eight key indicators of a positive workplace wellbeing culture. [12:20]
• Some practical advice for job seekers evaluating company culture. [18:35]

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• Building a positive well-being culture in the workplace is not just a nice to have.
• Fostering a positive workplace wellbeing culture leads to more engaged teams, reduces burnout and creates a greater sense of belonging.
• Remember, interviews are a two-way process. You need to assess if it's the right organisation for you.
• Building a positive workplace wellbeing culture is a continual process and it requires effort,and  empathy, and it has to be embedded into all strategies.
• Creating a positive workplace wellbeing culture is beneficial for employees because it really does boost employment morale, engagement, and retention across the organisation.

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• 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 270th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I reflect on the accuracy of my 2024 predictions on workplace wellbeing and share insights into trends expected for 2025.

Listen to the episode

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

• What we got right (and wrong) in 2024 predictions. [0:36]
• Building better intergenerational understanding at work [01:07]
• Is the buzz around equality, diversity, and inclusion fading? [01:54]
• Navigating menopause in the workplace: what needs to change [03:52]
• Looking ahead to 2025: how redundancy support will evolve [08:46]

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• Work is the most common cause of stress, with 79 percent of people being affected by work related stress.
• The right to switch off is currently a proposed law that would give employees the right to decline work related communication outside of their regular working hours.
• UK business confidence has actually fallen to its lowest level in two years as output drops sharply.
• There's been a significant increase in reported hate crime.
• 90% of UK workers say their employer has put no measures in place to relieve workplace stress

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• Episode 193: Anxiety Linked to the Climate Crisis
• Episode 194: Parents for Future with Jelly Mae Moring
• Episode 195: Colonial Legacies and Climate Change with Irene Asuwa
• Episode 196: How Divestment Links to Mental Health
• Episode 206: Making Climate Justice Accessible with Pooja Tilvawala
• Episode 111: Black Women in Menopause with Nina Kuypers
• Episode 68: Still Too Scared to Talk About Race
• Episode 114: Identifying and Combating Burnout
• Episode 120: Having Conversations About Workplace Adjustments
• Episode 254: Is It Okay to Talk About Politics at Work?
• Episode 188: The Top 5 Inclusion Workplace Mistakes
• Read blog: Business confidence falls to lowest level in almost two years as output drops sharply
• Check out: The invisible mental health crisis plaguing the West Bank
• Read: Wellbeing trends for 2025
• Download the free 200 Episode Guide with clickable links HERE.
• Contact me to work together on mental health support at work.
• 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

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

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Welcome to the 269th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this special end-of-year episode, I reflect on the highs and lows of 2024. From unexpected personal challenges to career milestones, I share insights from a year marked by both setbacks and breakthroughs.

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

• Reflecting on the Past Year [00:54]
• Recapping the Highlights of 2024 [01:54]
• A Month-by-Month Overview of 2024 [02:58]
• Unveiling the 2025 Word of the Year [15:45]
• What’s Ahead in 2025 [16:00]

• This year has been my seventh full year of business, and I have to say, it’s been an incredibly bumpy ride, which I didn’t expect.
• I think it’s a useful exercise to celebrate all that we might have achieved and consider what we want to build on.
• When you have worked for yourself for a long time, it is quite difficult to go back into an organisation
• The reason I chose the word "magical" is that it was more about finding small magical moments every day.
• It's amazing how two days a week really eats into your time.

• Episode 186 – International Day of Happiness
• Episode 228 – A Career with Heart and Mind with Dr Rolake Ojo
• Episode 229 – Coaching with Collage with Andrea Watts
• Episode 230 – Healthy Functioning with a Heart and Mind Connection with Dr Magdalena Bak-Maier
• Episode 232-235
• Episode 236-239
• Episode 240-244
• Episode 245-248
• Episode 249-252
• Episode 253-255
• Episode 256-259
• Episode 261-262
• Episode 264-265
• Episode 266-267
• Download the free 200 Episode Guide with clickable links HERE.
• Contact me to work together on mental health support at work.
• 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

Work with me

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

Welcome to the 268th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I dive into the intertwined concepts of well-being and inclusion.

I break down the definition of well-being, explore its five distinct categories, discuss what inclusion truly means and explore how to approach well-being and inclusion together in a meaningful way.

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

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• Introduction to today’s episode [01:05]
• What well-being means [01:23]
• Exploring the five key categories of well-being [02:17]
• Understanding the concept of inclusion [03:39]
• Practical steps to integrate well-being and inclusion [04:45]

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• It’s really nice to have a community in the workplace.
• Inclusion refers to an individual’s experience within their workplace and society.
• It’s important to understand the types of barriers that employees are facing
• If we feel included, that’s going to help our well-being.
• It’s important to understand the unique needs of your employees.

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• Read my blog: How Inclusive Workplaces Can Enable Good Wellbeing
• Department of Health PDF
• The Five Essential Elements of Well-Being
• Download the free 200 Episode Guide with clickable links HERE.
• Contact me to work together on mental health support at work.
• 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

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

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Welcome to the 267th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, we’re diving into the nuanced world of gatekeepers. I explore the challenge of identifying gatekeepers and how gatekeeping differs from respecting boundaries, and I share practical strategies to manage them effectively.

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

• The challenge of identifying a gatekeeper. [01:04]
• How gatekeeping differs from respecting rules and boundaries. [01:43]
• Practical strategies for managing gatekeepers. [02:04]
• The importance of understanding a gatekeeper's preferred communication style. [05:12]
• Why having the right support network is crucial. [08:10]

• Gatekeepers can also separate themselves by holding knowledge, information or resources to leverage their importance.
• We can’t change someone else’s behaviour.
• Gatekeeping stops you from reaching your full potential.
• Work on a strategy once you’ve identified a gatekeeper.
• Consider changing the way that you pitch things to a gatekeeper so that you get heard.

• Read my blog: Inclusive Leadership is a journey not a final destination
• How to Deal With Gatekeepers at Work
• Minding the Workplace The New Workplace Institute Blog, hosted by David Yamada (2011)
• Download the free 200 Episode Guide with clickable links HERE.
• Contact me to work together on mental health support at work.
• 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

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Welcome to the 266th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I’m tackling a topic that undermines inclusivity in the workplace - gatekeeping.

I unpack what gatekeeping truly is, why it’s so difficult to identify, and how it can insidiously overlap with bullying. I also reflect on the impact gatekeeping has in workplaces.

Join me as we shed light on this important issue and consider how we can create more inclusive environments.

• Why I’m talking about gatekeeping this month. [00:55]
• What is gatekeeping? [01:13]
• Why identifying a gatekeeper can be challenging. [02:06]
• How to identify gatekeeping. [04:22]
• The overlap between gatekeeping and bullying. [06:26]

Quotes on What are the gatekeepers in the workplace?

• So many people have the skills and the know-how but don’t get the opportunities at the workplace.
• Gatekeeping is the act of controlling access to information, opportunities or resources in the workplace.
• Gatekeepers can be individuals or groups who limit the opportunities and choices for others.
• Gatekeeping is an aspect of bullying.
• Identifying a gatekeeper can be quite challenging.

• Listen to Ep 11: Bullying and harassment in the workplace: what you can do about it.
• Check out Ep 63: Anti-bullying initiatives that work
• Listen to Ep 116: Tackling bystander apathy
• Read my blog: Speaking out about workplace bullying
• Beware the gatekeeper and its passive gaslighting
• How to identify the gatekeepers in your life who put limitations on you
• What is a gatekeeper in the workplace that can manifest itself as racism?
• Download the free 200 Episode Guide with clickable links HERE.
• Contact me to work together on mental health support at work.
• 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 265th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, we continue celebrating Black History Month 2024 with a focus on challenging narratives. We unpack the concept of the white gaze, exploring how it shapes interactions and influences self-expression.

• What is the white gaze? [01:01]
• How to recenter the white gaze. [01:38]
• The importance of supporting people. [04:48]
• Why you shouldn’t make Global Majority people explain things they don’t want to. [05:42]
• The need to reflect on and shift tone-policing. [07:01]

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• In essence, the white gaze is a default perspective.
• People lead in so many different ways
• Stop making Global Majority people explain things that they don’t want to.
• Reflect on and shift tone policing.
• Tone policing is a form of microaggression.

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• Listen to Ep 102: Beware the Tone Police!
• Check out what's going on in the UK for Black History Month.
• Nine black artists and cultural leaders on seeing and being seen
• Beware of the White Gaze
• Understanding the white gaze and how it impacts your workplace
• “Against a sharp white background”: How Black women experience the white gaze at work
• Download the free 200 Episode Guide with clickable links HERE.
• Contact me to work together on mental health support at work.
• 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

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

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Welcome to the 264th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In celebration of Black History Month 2024, this month's series will focus on Reclaiming Narratives.

This episode explores the concept of the white gaze, its manifestations, the ways it operates, how it compels many to self-censor and more.

• What is the white gaze? [00:49]
• How the white gaze can manifest. [01:09]
• One of the ways the white gaze operates. [04:30]
• How the white gaze forces many of us to self-censor. [05:31]
• The power of the white gaze narrative. [06:53]

• Academic research is an area where white men are primarily the research norm.
• We know that "Global Majority" women experience the white gaze in their workplace.
• The white gaze is a concept that describes how whiteness influences how things are valued in society.
• Women’s health research in the UK is woefully underfunded.
• Research is also designed with the white norm in mind.

• Check out what's going on the UK for Black History Month.
• “Against a sharp white background”: How Black women experience the white gaze at work
• Understanding the white gaze and how it impacts your workplace
• Download the free 200 Episode Guide with clickable links HERE.
• Contact me to work together on mental health support at work.
• 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 263rd episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In celebration of Black History Month 2024, this episode focuses on this year's theme - Reclaiming Narratives. We’ll delve into the power of storytelling and how narratives shape our thinking and society.

• What is a narrative? [00:57]
• How stories and our ways of thinking shape society. [03:10]
• The meaning of narrative change. [05:58]
• Stories staff use to make sense of complex issues. [07:27]
• The importance of having sensitivity input. [09:26]

• A narrative is a story that you may write or tell someone in several mediums.
• Narratives enhance and reinforce assumptions.
• Exposure to others' views can shape our own.
• Understanding the dominant narrative is essential.
• We go to work to solve problems.

• Episode #233: What are white Dominant Norms?
• Episode #234: Identifying white Dominant Norms
• Episode #235: Shifting white Dominant Norms
• Download the free 200 Episode Guide with clickable links HERE.
• Contact me to work together on mental health support at work.
• 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