Fear Reflexes, Fidgety Bums, and the Path to Thriving Minds

Niki McGlynn unpacks the hidden world of neurodevelopment, revealing how understanding primitive reflexes and movement empowers individuals to embrace their neurodiversity, unlock potential, and foster a deeper sense of safety and belonging.

In this enlightening episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood welcomes Niki McGlynn to unravel the intersection of neurodevelopment and inclusion with a focus on the often-overlooked impact of primitive reflexes. Together, they explore how foundational movement patterns established in early childhood influence lifelong learning, social integration, and overall wellbeing—especially for neurodivergent individuals and those with conditions such as ADHD and dyslexia. The conversation gracefully weaves personal experiences with expert insights, delving into the challenges faced both in the classroom and beyond when neurodiversity is misunderstood or missed altogether. Joanne and Niki challenge listeners to consider how evolving societal expectations and childhood environments may inadvertently hinder the natural calibration of neurodevelopment, while uncovering practical steps to rekindle these vital connections through movement in later life.

Niki is a neurodevelopment therapist, trainer, and ADHD coach based in the south of England, whose journey stems from her own experiences with undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD. Her expertise lies in translating the often arcane science of neurodevelopment into real-world, movement-based strategies that empower clients of all ages to unlock their potential. Niki’s approach is both deeply personal and firmly practical; she draws on her experience supporting her daughter through the diagnostic labyrinth, which propelled her to become a practitioner and trainer herself. Her work centres on understanding and integrating primitive reflexes—those innate patterns every infant develops—that often leave a lasting imprint on learning, behaviour, and emotional regulation if not matured beyond infancy. Through one-to-one clinical practice and public education, Niki is dedicated to demystifying these mechanisms and equipping individuals and families with tools to thrive.

Listeners are invited to reflect on how society can better support neurodivergent minds and why traditional approaches to learning and behaviour may need rethinking. A key takeaway from this episode is the transformative potential of addressing primitive reflexes through purposeful movement, breaking cycles of frustration and enabling inclusion from an authentic, physiological foundation. This is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the science of belonging, neurodiversity, and how simple, mindful changes can fuel empowerment at every stage of life.

Inclusion and Belonging: Remember, everyone not only belongs, but thrives.

Viral Topic: Translating Neurodevelopment Science

Understanding Dyslexia: “He wasn’t stupid, he wasn’t incapable of functioning in the world, it was just. He was incapable of learning his Alphabet, associating the letter with the object and then.”

Speed Reading and Comprehension: “Yeah, because, you know, we read a book, we read something on the screen, whatever it is, we’re not reading every letter, we’re recognising the peaks and troughs and the pattern of that word, aren’t we? We can look at whole sentences almost and gather the essence of what it’s trying to say without reading every word.”

How Babies Learn: “That’s all the newborn and the young, the toddler’s doing is calibrating all these senses and muscle movements.”

Building Spatial Awareness: “So what we talk about here is doing exercises, movements that allow you to build that sort of brain image of yourself, your spatial awareness of where your parts are, where your senses are, and connect those little dots in your brain.”

From Chickenpox Parties to COVID Fears: “In the past, you know, we would send our children to chickenpox parties and we deliberately make sure that our children were being exposed to as many coughs and sneezes as possible. Now we’re fighting back against vaccines and saying they must be dangerous.”

Dangerous Go Kart Design: “Quick release wheels on a go kart were not a good design feature, so we had to fix that one and put some split pins in to stop them coming off.”

Entrepreneurship and Academic Performance: “I think I saw something on. I think it was LinkedIn or some article on one of the car news sites talking about how this is correlation between entrepreneurship and not being an A grade student. Because being perceived a failure or having to try hard or not always succeeding gives you better resilience, better adaptability, which is an entrepreneurial trait. Whereas if you’re used to getting everything right, your success comes easy. You’ve never experienced failure, which is what we talked about earlier, about this development stage where you have to learn what failure feels like in order to be able to cope and adapt.”

How Comedians Think Differently: “They see the world differently, they find different things funny, they see patterns and stuff that are humorous often and not being governed by social contracts or rules of how you supposed to behave.”

The post Empowering Minds, One Reflex at a Time appeared first on SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts.

Empowering Women Through Visibility and Genuine Self-Expression

Raimonda Jankunaite explores the journey to authentic empowerment, challenging societal norms by boldly reclaiming voice, visibility, and agency for women against a backdrop of cultural expectation and global shifts.

In this thought-provoking episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood welcomes Raimonda Jankunaite to explore the themes of visibility, empowerment, and authenticity. The conversation navigates Raimonda’s personal journey, starting from her upbringing in Lithuania and transformational move to Spain, to finding her voice after experiencing trauma and societal conditioning. She and Joanne discuss how patriarchal expectations and cultural traditions can silence women and minority communities, and how self-acceptance and challenging established norms are crucial in reclaiming agency. The episode unpacks complex issues around gender, power, and the necessity of amplifying marginalised voices, while also addressing timely global shifts and the urgent need for collective action in the face of rising extremism and rollback of inclusion policies.

Raimonda is a visibility and empowerment mentor, international author, and founder of Women Thrive Media—an organisation devoted to providing women a platform to amplify their voices globally. Having lived in Lithuania, the UK, and now Spain, Raimonda offers a unique perspective informed by a breadth of cultural experiences. Her ethos centres on seeing potential in others before they recognise it themselves, helping women own their stories unapologetically. She draws powerfully on her own resilience following personal adversity and social marginalisation, both as an immigrant and as a woman. Raimonda leads an online community exceeding 600,000, publishes Women Thrive magazine, and orchestrates large-scale events and summits dedicated to inclusion and collective empowerment.

Together, Joanne and Raimonda reflect on the societal mechanisms that restrict women, the impact of trauma on identity, and the liberation found in embracing one’s authentic self. Raymonda’s decision to defy superficial expectations—exemplified by shaving her head—and her ongoing encouragement for women to reject imposed limitations are highlighted as acts of personal and political resistance. The discussion expands into strategies for activism, the importance of collective voice, and the role of communities in fostering lasting change.

A key takeaway from this episode is the critical role of authentic visibility in both self and collective empowerment. Raimonda’s narrative is an invitation to embrace personal truth, challenge restrictive norms, and rally for inclusion—reminding listeners that meaningful progress arises when individuals find their voice and use it to ignite change within their communities. This episode offers actionable inspiration for anyone seeking to foster a culture of belonging and resistance in turbulent times.

Viral Topic: The Reality of Strong Women and Suppression

Fighting for Identity in a New Land: “And I started to build that rebelliousness inside of me to say, look, we have to fight for ourselves, we have to stand up for ourselves.”

Viral Topic: Changing Perceptions and Self-Image: “I realised that so much attention used to come to me because of being that. Having that perception of a kind of woman that you are, right? The long blonde hair, the curves or whatever, you know, I used to get a lot of attention and now I realise, okay, I’m not getting that attention and I don’t mind either way because I have a partner, I have family.”

Viral Topic: Hidden Threats Become Visible

Viral Topic: The Rapid Erosion of Women’s Rights: “The decades of work that has gone in into diversity and inclusion, into policies, into the work that has been done to build bridges, to build inclusivity, to give rights to minorities overnight being eradicated.”

Power in Our Choices: “And our choices are, we still have, we hold a lot of financial power in our choices and our voices and as long as we don’t buy into the messaging of disempowerment.”

The Power of Advocacy: It starts with us. It starts with us having a voice, putting our voice, advocating for ourselves, advocating for others, knowing you’re not the only one in this world and you need to have a voice and be an ally for those who perhaps don’t have a voice.

Viral Topic: The Importance of Community Action

Empowering Women Globally: “My whole entire mission is to create a platform, global platform for women to have a voice, to be advocates to.”

The post Visibility, Empowerment and Authenticity appeared first on SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts.

Transforming Teams with Emotional and Self Awareness

Bhavesh Naik explores the pivotal role of self-awareness, authentic human connection, and conscious leadership in building resilient, high-performing organisations that truly harness humanity for enduring success.

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood is joined by Bhavesh Naik to explore the transformative role of self-awareness and humanity in building successful, resilient organisations. The conversation navigates the nuances of self-awareness—both as lived experience and practical skill—in high-performing workplaces. Joanne and Bhavesh dissect the subtle power of observing oneself, moving beyond intellectual definitions toward a more embodied, present-centred awareness that empowers individuals and teams to thrive. Listeners are invited to reconsider the foundations of leadership, emotional intelligence, and the dynamics of inclusion, while drawing connections between personal insight and organisational change.

Bhavesh is a business performance and longevity expert who helps organisational leaders nurture thriving cultures by embracing the full humanness of their people. Renowned for his deeply realised sense of self-awareness and innovative thinking, Bhavesh champions a holistic approach to leadership development. His distinctive perspective challenges traditional management theories rooted in the industrial age, proposing instead that true transformation is driven by nurturing awareness and authentic connection across all levels of a business. Bhavesh draws upon years of experience with executive coaching and team facilitation to offer practical frameworks—grounded in both science and lived wisdom—that help organisations shift from dependency and disengagement into empowered, conscious collaboration.

Throughout their discussion, Joanne and Bhavesh probe how self-awareness can be harnessed to close the gap between reaction and reflection, move teams towards higher engagement, and reframe emotionally intelligent action as a form of emotional awareness. They address the need for leaders to foster open dialogues, offer practical exercises for cultivating self and situational awareness, and interrogate the impact of workplace culture on inclusion and belonging. The episode spotlights how authentic relationships and a celebration of individual uniqueness can unlock potential within organisations, even in the face of bias or resistance to change.

The key takeaway from this episode is that harnessing humanity—by fostering self-awareness and valuing genuine connection—creates the bedrock for organisational success. Listeners will be equipped with practical strategies to drive inclusive transformation, ignite cultural alignment, and elevate both individual and collective performance. Tune in for actionable insights to help you and your organisation not only belong— but truly thrive.

Viral Topic: Rethinking Self Awareness: “self awareness to me is more of the classic definition or more of a common sense, the literal definition of self awareness, which is self aware awareness of the self.”

The Power of Human Awareness: “if you know, we have this ability as humans to be able to see ourselves doing whatever it is that we’re doing so we can bring an awareness to this person.”

Viral Topic: How We Give Meaning to the World

Viral Topic: Defining Common Ground in Diversity

Viral Topic: “The Strength of Relationships Defines Organisations”: So how we talk to each other, how we converse with each other, how we work with each other. So the strength of that relationship is the strength of the organisation.

The Ripple Effect of Leadership: “Even if there is a multiple people, team, executive team, there’s one person who is in a leadership position, who is the ripple effect, who’s the centre of this ripple effect?”

Outdated Management Practices: “we are still using the management practises and philosophies that were developed in the industrial age, which was about 250 years ago, codified in that time, scientific management theories. But we really saw, we haven’t really evolved the way we manage people, the way we build organisation, the way we lead people at all.”

Viral Topic: Leadership Transformation

Viral Leadership Hack: “So if I’m a manager or you’re a manager, you would sit down with this person and say, well, why is this job important to you? So this becomes part of the management process. It can also become part of the recruitment process. These are powerful questions to ask, right? Why work here?”

The Importance of Trust in Workplace Conversations: “you can’t play politics based on what someone tells you, because if you do that, then that breaks the trust, right? And then they won’t open up or they’ll give you the wrong answer.”

The post Harnessing Humanity for Success appeared first on SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts.

Empowering ADHD Individuals Through Neuro-Inclusive Coaching

Alex Bellitter explores the dynamic landscape of neurodivergence, revealing how tailored, neuro-inclusive coaching empowers individuals with ADHD to harness their unique strengths and thrive within a world shaped by neurotypical expectations.

In this thought-provoking episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood welcomes Alexandra Bellitter to discuss "Unlocking Neurodivergent Potential". The conversation examines the limitations of traditional coaching methods for neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ADHD, and spotlights the importance of genuinely adaptive, person-centred approaches. Joanne and Alex challenge the assumption that neurodivergence should be ‘fixed’. Instead, they explore how embracing natural differences can create pathways to thriving in both professional and personal settings. The discussion dispels the myth of one-size-fits-all strategies, offering practical examples of how to tailor workplace support and self-advocacy. Alexandra provides valuable insight into reducing overwhelm and building systems that operate in harmony with diverse minds, from managing deadlines and communication preferences, to leveraging technology without falling prey to distraction.

Alex is an operations manager and lead at Shimmer ADHD Coaching, where she pioneers neuro-inclusive coaching initiatives designed to support the ADHD community in reaching their aspirations. Driven by an enduring love of learning, Alex’s commitment is firmly rooted in advancing neuro-inclusivity, with expertise in translating neuropsychological theory into actionable coaching frameworks. Based in Dallas, Alex brings a global outlook to her practice, combining professional skills with lived experiences to facilitate empowerment, self-discovery, and advocacy for neurodivergent individuals. Her approach is founded on authentic partnership—enabling clients to co-create solutions that reflect their unique lived realities rather than adapting to preconceived expectations.

Highlighting real-life workplace scenarios—such as the stress of changing deadlines, struggles with memory, and the challenge of open communication—Joanne and Alex illustrate the importance of radical candour, mutual understanding, and tailored reasonable adjustments for all. The episode explores the rising visibility of neurodivergence, gender differences in diagnosis, and the stigma that still pervades many environments. Together, they unpack strategies for self-management, disclosure, and constructive advocacy that foster genuinely inclusive cultures.

A key takeaway is the transformative impact of rejecting deficit narratives in favour of empowerment and choice. This episode is essential listening for anyone keen to understand, support, or unlock the strengths of neurodivergent colleagues or themselves, offering practical wisdom and renewed optimism for building workplaces where everyone can flourish.

Viral Topic: Neuro-Inclusive Coaching

Viral Topic: The Power of Vulnerability in Choosing a Coach: “Usually when someone signs up for coaching, it is a very raw and vulnerable moment of I’m going to choose to have someone in my life to partner with, to reach my goals.”

Viral Topic: The Struggle for Neurodiverse Inclusion

Neurodiversity and Stigma: “when I’m talking about neurodivergence, we’re talking about a natural variation in how people present it is not something to be fixed, healed, treated. This is something that we’re working with, this is something that we can be managed when there’s difficulties. But there’s also plenty of benefits with having a neurodivergent brain and I would say it’s largely contributed to visibility of 20 years ago. The conversations looked very different, the stigma looked very different and a lot of people avoided a label for their child.”

Viral Topic: Neurodivergence and Workplace Expectations: “It’s a pretty common statistic that goes around that a neurodivergent child is going to hear 20,000 more negative comments than their peers by the age of 12.”

The Attention Economy and Phones: “we have a bit of an attention economy of how can we hold your attention for a long time because that’s profitable”

The Impact of Constant Digital Alerts on Neurodiversity: “Their sensitivity to those alerts is different than for a neurotypical. So while all of us may be dealing with more demand and things pulling us away from our tasks, it is experienced very differently between neurotypicals and neurodivergent.”

Viral Topic: The Hidden Challenges of Virtual Communication for Neurodivergent Individuals: “It is different when we’re talking about virtual communication of how quickly do they expect a response from us? How inconvenient is it for me to try to respond to text quickly when I’m trying to focus on a portfolio and test switching can be more difficult.”

ADHD Coaching Demystified: “Of course, I’m biassed because I’m an ADHD coach, but with ADHD coaching there are three different elements. So that first is the traditional life coaching, where we’re talking about the visions, the goals, the experiments each week and using your strengths. The second piece is going to be psychoeducation. So if you’re curious about how does the ADHD brain work? How is ADHD showing up? For me, those are absolutely conversations that we can have. It’s all about becoming more informed and empowered with this information. How do I want to proceed? What does this mean for me? Why do I want to know about that? It’s all questions that we can go through together. And then the third piece being executive function coaching or skill building, if there’s something where you’re noticing, hey, you know, I’m really struggling with time management or decision making.”

Viral Topic: Radical Candour at Work: “So just having a very transparent conversation with the employee in a way that you’re employing radical candour of.”

The post Unlocking Neurodivergent Potential appeared first on SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts.

Journey from Amputation to Entrepreneurial Triumph

Lindsay Mitchison explores the realities of disability, self-empowerment, and breaking societal moulds, revealing how confidence, community, and bold creativity can redefine both mobility aids and perceptions of thriving with difference.

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood explores what it truly means to “break the disability mould” with guest Lindsay Mitchison. Together, they navigate the practical, emotional, and societal layers of living with disability in the UK, challenging stereotypes and societal expectations at every turn. Joanne and Lindsay discuss everything from losing agency following a life-changing amputation to reclaiming confidence and control, offering listeners an unfiltered exploration of family anxieties, healthcare systems, stigma, and importantly, the power of embracing difference. The conversation shines a light on both the humour and hurdles of living with a disability, and asks challenging questions of how businesses and communities can do more to support access, dignity, and inclusion.

Lindsay is an award-winning disabled entrepreneur, recognised globally for her work as founder of NeoWalk. Her company produces bespoke, visually stunning acrylic walking sticks designed to empower individuals to step out in style and confidence, transforming a functional aid into a bold expression of personality. Lindsay’s career began in hairdressing before a catastrophic MRSA infection led to the amputation of her leg. Rather than letting circumstances define her, Lindsay became a sought-after circus performer and casualty actor, and now stands at the forefront of disability advocacy and inclusive design. With a lived understanding of disability, from mobility challenges through to community building, Lindsay exemplifies resilience, warmth, and a drive to serve others navigating similar paths.

Joanne and Lindsay consider the cultural shift from concealing impairments to celebrating assistive technology as fashion. They reflect on society’s readiness (or reticence) to adapt environments and attitudes, and how empowering disabled voices—especially through community—sparks both personal and collective transformation. Listeners will resonate with stories of overcoming social awkwardness, the critical importance of choice in assistive aids, and the need for business and policy to stop hiding behind red tape and start facilitating real change.

The key takeaway from this episode is a resounding call for agency, visibility, and joy in disability—reminding us that inclusion is not about fitting in, but about belonging and thriving. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking authentic insights into building a society where everyone can stand out, not just fit in.

Viral Topic: Taking Control After Catastrophic Illness: “But, yeah, I I opted to have my leg amputated because all it was doing was holding me back, and I was facing an amputation in the future anyway. So I kind of took control back, made what had happened to me work again for me because I knew that with a prosthetic, I’d be much more active.”

Viral Topic: Reinventing Life After Amputation: “I trained to be a circus performer. Does that sound silly? I’d I I got offered all this. I I had to keep working. So I joined an agency called Amputees in Action, and they find work for amputees like me.”

Adapting to Change: “So you’ve seen different aspects where, to paraphrase, went from being able, partially disabled, to a wheelchair user, and there’s a completely different experience for you in society in that way.”

Viral Topic: Challenging Disability Stereotypes: “I think, still needs educating a lot on how to not label people with disabilities because instantly, I’m labeled. We’re all I know we’re all labeled, but instantly, when people see me in a in a wheelchair, I’m labeled as weaker, less less able, that they, you know, they kind of assume that you’ve got some kind of neuro thing going on as well, which isn’t true. You you kind of viewed as less than.”

Viral Topic: Disability and Representation in Film: “I got offered this job as Peggy Sue, the one legged stripper in Bad Education, the movie with Jack Whitehall. And it was hilarious. I mean, I don’t know whether you’ve seen it, but she was a bad stripper, so she didn’t take many clothes off because as quick as she was taking them off, the audience were throwing them back at her.”

Viral Topic: Appreciating Life’s Privileges: “Maybe you take life for granted until you realize that it’s not predestined and preordained. You can actually take a step to the left and make a new path if you wish.”

Viral Topic: Redefining Disability with Personal Style: “I first started making the acrylic walking sticks for myself, and people were coming up to me and saying, who loves your walking stick? It’s amazing. Instead of what happened to you or what’s wrong with you?”

Viral Topic: Living in the Moment with Disability: “Living for the moment, living for the day, and just enjoying and being grateful and thankful for what I’ve got, for who I’ve got, and making the most of the connection that we’ve made with with this community, and just trying to help help other people.”

The Power of Choice in Design: “But there is choice out there. And I think for a long time, there there just wasn’t because designers just didn’t want to tread there. You know? But there there is choice, and I think that’s it’s important for people to know.”

The Power of Community Gatherings: “Do you know what? Just getting together for a natter. Meet people that you’ve meet people in person that you’ve met online, you know, and try and just as foster that community again.”

The post Breaking the Disability Mould appeared first on SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts.

Sustaining Inclusion in Uncertain Times

Wema Hoover explores the systemic challenges and backlash facing DEI, championing sustainable strategies that centre inclusion, belonging, and authentic organisational transformation amidst shifting societal and political landscapes.

In this thought-provoking episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood explores the shifting terrain of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with global DEI expert Wema Hoover. As policies and public narratives in both the United States and UK face significant scrutiny and backlash, Joanne and Wema dissect why inclusion efforts are being re-evaluated, how organisations are responding, and where the misconceptions about equity and meritocracy truly lie. Listeners will gain a window into how high-profile brands and corporate leaders are navigating today’s political headwinds, as well as clear-headed advice for HR and inclusion practitioners on maintaining organisational values and psychological safety amidst uncertainty.

Wema Hoover brings a wealth of experience as a former Chief Diversity Officer at renowned companies including Google and Sanofi, with a career dedicated to leading systemic change and driving cultural transformation on a global scale. Based in Princeton, New Jersey, she grounds her practice in championing sustainable DEI strategies that adapt to complex and volatile environments. Wema’s perspectives are shaped not only by her leadership across continents but also by a personal commitment to the true meaning of inclusion and belonging. She approaches DEI not simply as a compliance exercise, but as a sound business strategy that unlocks employee potential and meets the evolving needs of clients, communities, and customers.

Listeners can expect an unflinching discussion about the realities of the current DEI backlash, the role of misinformation and fear in shaping public sentiment, and the dangers of complacency. Joanne and Wema unpack the pitfalls of viewing DEI through a zero-sum lens, highlight the need for authentic business alignment, and stress the importance of both cultural retention and psychological safety—especially for those who feel disheartened by today’s climate.

A key takeaway from this episode is the call to reconnect with the foundational values of inclusion as simply good business sense—fostering environments where talent and innovation flourish, and where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. For anyone seeking inspiration and practical strategies to create meaningful change despite external pressures, this episode offers both context and hope.

Viral Topic: The Real Purpose of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Viral Topic: The Post-George Floyd Shift in Corporate DEI

Viral Topic: Political Reckoning in the US: “those who may have voted for the current administration did not realize just the kind of massive, not only changes, but dismantling that would happen that would affect their own backyard, you know, from an education system, from an immigration system, you know, from an access in social security. So I do think that there is this almost like, still reality that, wow, this is not what I signed up for.”

Viral Topic: The Fear Behind Diversity

Viral Topic – The Importance of Genuine Inclusion in Organisations: “People cannot bring their best if they’re in hostile environments, if they feel that they are not going to be tacked on or being able to contribute because of who they are or what their authentic, their authentic selves.”

Viral Topic: The Truth About Diverse Hires

The Real Value of DEI: “when people are in an environment where they feel safe, they feel included, they have the ability to be themselves. They perform the best.”

The Business Case for Inclusion: “These strategies are business strategy, effective strategy, business strategy that have been in place by the way, for decades and decades and decades, that happened to have also a great outcome of diversity, equity, inclusion, which happens to be very sound strategies and tactics to have strong workforce, you know, of, of, of, of inclusion, of, of, perspective ideas and a wonderful opportunity to understand segment and meet the needs of your market just happens to be, which is also inclusion.”

Viral Topic: Building a Thriving Organisational Culture

Leadership in Challenging Times: “the leaders need to make meaning for themselves and be able to sit with whatever their personal opinions, their affiliation is outside, but what is needed inside the organization and why.”

The post Beyond the DEI Backlash appeared first on SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts.

Storytelling as a Catalyst for Inclusion and Positive Change

Nick Elston explores how honest storytelling and embracing vulnerability can transform personal adversity into powerful connections, ignite belonging, and inspire authentic conversations that challenge societal norms.

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood explores the transformative potential of honest storytelling with guest Nick Elston. Together, they unpack the role of vulnerability and authenticity in forging meaningful connections, both personally and in professional circles. Joanne shares the evolution of her own narrative and emphasises how sharing lived experiences can foster empathy and a sense of belonging. Nick explains the emotional weight of repeatedly telling one’s story and the importance of adapting narratives to serve both audience and personal wellbeing, whilst ensuring stories remain relevant and impactful. The discussion openly addresses the discomfort and courage required to lead with vulnerability in spaces not always primed for change.

Nick is a keynote guest renowned for empowering individuals to embrace their voice, share their stories, and cultivate genuine human connection. As founder of Forging People, his mission centres on turning vulnerability into a catalyst for growth and transformation. Drawing upon a journey shaped by obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety, Nick began using his voice as a therapeutic tool in the wake of professional burnout. His approach champions not only personal development but actively encourages others to break the silence around mental health and embrace their full selves in the workplace and beyond. Throughout the episode, Joanne and Nick engage in candid dialogue about the challenges of “owning your story” without being trapped in the past, the pitfalls of performative vulnerability, and the necessity of creating spaces where difficult questions can be safely explored.

The conversation further delves into ways of balancing lived experience with boundaries, highlighting the emotional and psychological labour inherent in driving inclusion. Both Joanne and Nick offer practical illustrations of communicating difficult topics—ranging from gender identity to mental illness—with humanity and relatability. They engage in a robust exchange about the power of authenticity to disrupt echo chambers and foster genuine change, particularly in environments resistant to inclusion.

A key takeaway from this episode is the power of lived experience as a vehicle for connection and positive action. Listeners will gain insight into using their authentic narrative not as a limitation, but as an evolving tool for personal empowerment and meaningful impact. Whether you are seeking to share your own story or lead others through theirs, this episode will inspire you to embrace vulnerability and ignite the spark of inclusion.

The Power of Authenticity in Professional Environments: “speaking without the filter, speaking with authenticity and vulnerability, and why has that been hugely hijacked since, to be fair? It builds a bridge of trust and connection and depth with people far more than any superficial message were ever trained to deliver in professional environments for sure.”

Viral Topic: The Reality of Audience Engagement: “No one cares as much as we think they do. And I mean that in the nicest possible way, that you could be the most exciting a list celebrity, but after fifteen minutes of talking to an audience, they’re gonna wanna know what’s in it for them.”

The Universal Search for Belonging: “The common fact factor for me is belonging, And it’s essentially kind of a big reason why I do what I do now is that it affects our sense of belonging enough to feel that we’re marginalized enough to not have a platform, to not have a voice, to not feel that we can step up.”

Cancel Culture and the Fear of Asking Questions: “I think we’re really afraid of asking questions for the fear of being canceled or being ashamed or or just saying the wrong thing. And I think that’s something we we need to maintain, the ability to ask better questions.”

Viral Topic – Overcoming Toxic Environments: “I withdrew myself from that. So, actually, I I would say this was many years ago, but I admire your strength and courage to do that.”

Why Diversity Champions Take On Extra Burdens: “Very often why people come into these roles of representing a section of society or section of humanity is because they have either experienced that directly or indirectly themselves. But by nature, you then become more sensitive to take on the burdens and the challenges of everybody else.”

Viral Topic: The Hidden Toll of Mental Health Advocacy: “So, actually, if you look at mental health champions, for example, that by the time they get home, they have not only supported themselves, but 20 other people, and that’s before they even get home. Home is not always a good place.”

Viral Topic: The Hidden Cost of High Performance: “we can be highly successful and highly performing fueled by anxiety, but you can only run for so long until you stop, and therein lies the problem.”

Viral Topic: Handling Pushback and Low-Level Toxicity

Viral Topic: The Power of Perspective in Storytelling: “I could deliver the same talk to the same audience four times and have four different outcomes because if that one person in the audience is going through a marital problem, they’re gonna pick up on the bit when I talk about personal relationships. Next time around, it could be a professional problem, and they’ll pick up they’ll ignore the other bit.”

The post The Power of Honest Storytelling appeared first on SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts.

Behavioural Science and the Eight Inclusion Needs

Dr. Liz Wilson unpacks the behavioural science underpinning workplace equity, exploring how systems, culture, and inclusion needs converge to create environments where everyone can thrive, challenge, and reshape the status quo.

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood invites Dr. Liz Wilson to explore the science underpinning workplace equity. The discussion moves beyond surface-level diversity initiatives, investigating how behavioural science and systems thinking can drive sustainable inclusion. Liz and Joanne challenge the conventional notion that changing minds is at the heart of equity work, instead focusing on establishing organisational architectures and everyday practices that reinforce inclusive behaviour. The conversation is both practical and provocative, offering listeners a fresh perspective on why so many DEI initiatives falter and what truly makes change stick — all illustrated through lively anecdotes and relatable metaphors, from medieval castles to the humble Marmite.

Liz is a behavioural scientist and strategic inclusion expert whose career has spanned two decades of organisational culture transformation. With a PhD focused precisely on behavioural science and cultural change in the workplace, as well as a wealth of global consulting experience, Liz has dedicated her life to designing evidence-based frameworks that help organisations turn equity from aspiration into practice. Her unique superpower lies in transforming personal adversity into a global mission, drawing from a lived experience that includes navigating ADHD and chronic pain. Currently based in Denver, Colorado, Liz’s pragmatic yet empathetic approach resonates with teams and leaders worldwide, equipping them to foster environments where everyone can thrive.

The episode unpacks the pitfalls of tackling inclusion through a fragmented, label-by-label approach, advocating instead for a universal framework: the eight inclusion needs of all people. Liz explains why recruitment should never be the first step and how overlooked systems shape whether diverse talent stays and succeeds. Both Joanne and Liz tackle the recent backlash against DEI efforts, dissecting the psychology of resistance and the importance of reaching “centrist” ground for sustainable progress. Metaphors about buffets and castles bring humour and clarity to complex dilemmas, while candid discussion about lived experience, intersectionality, and resilience makes the science of equity feel both urgent and utterly human.

A key takeaway from this episode is that genuine workplace equity is neither accidental nor achievable through goodwill alone. It requires robust systems, everyday behavioural reinforcements, and a universal, intersectional lens. Listeners will leave with practical insight into making inclusion tangible—whatever their starting point—and the sense that, with the right tools, meaningful cultural transformation is truly within reach.

Viral Topic: The True Source of Workplace Culture

Viral Topic: The Truth About Organisational Change

Building Inclusion into Organisational Systems: “If you want to succeed in this organization and get past go and continue around the board, you have to complete this step. And so that step, whatever that is, if you were trying to create more inclusive organization, for instance, since we’re on an inclusion bites podcast, we put an inclusive step in that is required to continue on that pathway, whether that’s in a process in a talent acquisition cycle, or if it’s in the business case and project cycle, whatever it is, that is the system.”

Viral Topic: How Fast Can Pay Equity Really Be Achieved?: “Well, you know, I could do the data analysis within forty eight hours and then, you know, within a week, I could pretty much make sure all of the pays are rectified and then give me a, I don’t know, a few months to change processes and procedures that whole system to ensure it doesn’t flex back.”

Viral Topic: The Limits of Label-Based Inclusion

Viral Topic: Inclusion Is About More Than Race

Viral Move for Impact: “I figured if I’m gonna make a bigger impact, I’ve gotta move here.”

Global Inclusion Challenges: “You can’t even legally be yourself and it becomes, you can’t actually talk about creating an inclusive environment by using the words.”

Viral Topic: The Ripple Effect on Inclusion Work

Viral Topic: The Power of Self-Understanding in Neurodiversity

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Finding Fulfilment Beyond the Corporate Climb

James R. Elliott explores the intricate interplay of confidence, resilience, and authenticity, unveiling how embracing failure, adaptability, and personal balance empowers individuals and leaders to cultivate truly inclusive and thriving cultures.

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood welcomes transformational coach and international keynote expert, James R. Elliott, for a dynamic discussion centred around confidence, balance and success. Joanne and James explore how authenticity, resilience, and the willingness to embrace change are fundamental to driving both personal fulfilment and organisational growth. Together, they challenge conventional career narratives, interrogate the myths of corporate stability, and examine the importance of psychological safety, encouraging listeners to break free from self-imposed limitations and explore what’s truly possible when you create space for growth, experimentation, and self-care.

Embracing Change in Leadership: “It’s creating that success, is by planning to change, planning for change and and having a almost a almost a change and growth roadmap for yourself and for your team.”

The Power of Authenticity at Work: “And my biggest thing is be authentic. And if you’re authentic and being real and and and as not permission to be an ass for, but it’s it’s, you know, being being raw and real and and and yes, sharing your opinions, share your thoughts whether you’re not been or whether you’re you’re someone at a at a kind person, then that’s not that’s not the firm for you. Or if you’re afraid that you’re gonna get fired or think you get fired for being real and authentic.”

Viral Topic: The Flaws of Modern Education: “I hate how the current school system, and I have several problems with it. I think it creates robots and it makes peep designs people to be automatons in a, in a, in a, you know, industrial world, corporate world, I suppose. But not even, not even successful corporate people because the corporate world still use great thinkers, great innovators, people who go above and beyond and think outside the box versus just do what you’re told.”

Viral Topic: Future Careers and the Impact of AI

Viral Topic: Rethinking Hustle Culture: “It’s whoever works the most effectively, the most efficiently, most creatively. And while they while they, you know, and inspire others, empower others, lead others to success, those that’s who wins, not just work, work, work, work, work harder.”

Viral Topic: The Power of Rest and Creativity: “my greatest ahas and creativity and awareness moments and moments of generating ideas and solutions came when I was resting or doing something else or doing self care and doing something else, not when I was in the middle of the thing.”

Viral Topic: The Power of Small Daily Learning Habits: “and I think gently I would invite people to call themselves on that and call themselves out because if you’re on this thing all day or if you’re scrolling at night for desk scrolling or if you’re watching, I don’t watch TV, but if you’re if you’re watching any amount of TV a a day, not to not to say don’t play. Definitely have time, have play of fun, whatever your thing is, but at least, you know, maybe take half an hour, forty minutes a day, less TV or less doom scrolling or whatever and invest whether it’s YouTube, whether it’s books, whether it’s whatever invest.”

Perseverance and Growth: “even turn a few pages because in a year you’re going to have one or three books done versus none. So I think that that that all this we’re talking about ties back in a theme of perseverance and resilience, and growth and success.”

Viral Topic: The Importance of Walking and Diet: “Walking is one of the best forms of exercise actually burns a higher percentage of fat. It just takes a little longer. So if you want to walk and walk for an hour, hour and twenty, not that a half hour walk is not great for you, but in terms of walk for an hour or run for twenty five, twenty, twenty five minutes, it’s it’s it’s a choice. But again, whatever people do, I think is is fine. They don’t have to do, you know, join a circuit training or a dance class or whatever the the exercise and just and eat better. I’ve learned that eating and and diet is is a huge, huge thing, even to the point of where certain foods still will make me exhausted, will make me depressed, anxious foods and will affect our mental health.”

Viral Topic: Modern Workplace Challenges and Solutions: “So it’s fascinating the the solutions we come up with to new and modern problems. If we just think outside the box and instead of thinking, oh, I can’t or I can’t do this because, or I’m not able to, or I can’t do it now because whether you’re an entrepreneur, whether you’re a business leader or someone in in a business looking to grow into a leader, I invite you to be very, very careful with with what you say and and with what thoughts you allow to run your mind.”

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How PR Shapes Authentic Change in a Noisy World

Sarah McCracken explores the power of authentic storytelling, reputation management, and strategic visibility in PR, highlighting how amplifying marginalised voices can shape societal change and foster genuine inclusion.

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood is joined by Sarah McCracken for an energising conversation centred on raising voices and shaping meaningful change through effective and authentic communication. Together, they explore the transformative power of public relations – not as “spin,” but as a genuine means to amplify underrepresented voices and champion the causes of inclusion, diversity, and belonging. The discussion covers how authenticity and visibility are fundamental for organisations and individuals seeking to make a positive impact, the nuances of PR versus marketing, and the risks of reputation management in an age of misinformation and polarised narratives. Joanne and Sarah offer fresh perspectives on countering toxic public discourse, myth-busting without fuelling negativity, and the role of emotional storytelling in bridging the gap between logic and action.

Viral Topic: Campaigning for Change

How to Make Your Story Newsworthy: “Just because you think it’s good, doesn’t make it newsworthy.”

Viral Topic: The Decline of Fact-Checking Online: “And then we’re losing all the the the fact checkers as well off social media platforms, which is quite frightening in itself. Because then where do where do I go to get facts verified? Where do my children go who who aren’t as new savvy?”

Authenticity in Leadership: “But, yeah, you do you and do it really, really well.”

Viral Topic: Effective Advocacy in Politics: “I would be encouraging you to, to write a briefing, to be engaging with your local MP, to be engaging with the people who are gonna be speaking to this motion and informing them of the actual facts of the matter.”

The Power of Personal Storytelling: “You know, you need to get the young people telling their story about the impacts that caring for their their family member has on them. And that is so much more powerful than than you or I telling their story on on their behalf.”

The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media: “So there there’s pros and cons to socials, but I I personally think the pros outweigh the cons, especially if we use it intentionally to educate, to inform, to build connections.”

Coping with Online Criticism: “But it can be difficult, especially if people are attacking you personally.”

The Dangers of Echo Chambers in Decision-Making: “If it’s people you’ve surrounded with because they say yes, that’s not gonna help you in the long term.”

The Power of PR for Credibility: “So so that’s the value of PR as well. It’s it’s building that credibility through different outlets that’s not paid for. So, again, that that’s gonna enhance your credibility and hopefully down the line boost your presence.”

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