In this episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Aparna Rae—educator, entrepreneur, writer, and disruptor—who brings clarity, honesty, and depth to our conversation about equity, data, and the future of work. We get into the real talk around corporate DEI, why so many initiatives fall flat, and how data can actually help drive meaningful change when used well (and not just to check a box). Aparna shares insights on how to survive this current moment—marked by authoritarian creep, economic anxiety, and corporate gaslighting—while still building dignity, safety, and care into the workplace.

We talk about Costco, AI, bullshit jobs, and how solidarity (not hustle) will get us through. Bring your notebook and maybe a stiff drink if that’s your thing—this one goes deep.

Chapters

0:00 – Welcome + Introducing Aparna Rae

1:22 – Aparna’s origin story: from archaeology to pedagogy

3:23 – The pedagogy of work and the role of data

7:40 – Pushback from clients and lessons from failed engagements

8:31 – What data-informed equity really means

12:15 – Do workshops matter? And the difference between tools and the work

14:15 – The current state of DEI: death, evolution, or reckoning?

17:27 – Acting with integrity in authoritarian times

20:58 – Who’s doing it well? Valuing labor and leadership alignment

23:23 – Costco, Patagonia, and building for sustainability

27:03 – The backlash to the Great Resignation

29:05 – Workplace culture as democracy’s front line

32:15 – AI, capitalism, and human value

39:25 – When DEI went wrong: Aparna’s viral Forbes piece

44:52 – Power dynamics, shame, and where we go from here

45:34 – Trends for 2025: solidarity, safety, and protecting trans lives

49:07 – Escaping hustle culture and dreaming of a different way

50:27 – What’s next for Aparna Rae

51:42 – Where to find her (spoiler: not TikTok)

53:34 – Wrap up + outro

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