Speaking of Inclusion...

In today’s episode of Speaking of Inclusion... I am joined by Sharon Hurley Hall, who returns to the podcast for an another honest and thoughtful conversation, this time about introversion and what it means to show up authentically in a world that seems built for extroverts. If you missed Sharon’s previous episode, where we discussed anti-racism and colourism, don’t worry – you can pop back in to...

In today’s episode of Speaking of Inclusion, I am joined by Sharon Hurley Hall: author, educator, and anti-racism activist. Sharon is well known for her insightful anti-racism newsletter, and her book “I’m Tired of Racism: True Stories of Existing While Black and Exploring Shadism”. Sharon’s work has been a huge influence on my understanding of inclusion, and I’m so pleased to bring this conversat...

In today's episode of Speaking of Inclusion... I am joined by Michelle Knight, a consultant, midwife and birth trauma specialist, to tackle the complex, emotional, and frequently misunderstood world of birth trauma and the broader issues around birth, parenthood, and support in our society. Michelle shares her journey from training as a nurse, to working as cabin crew, and then finally discovering...

In today’s episode of Speaking of Inclusion, I am joined by Vicky Quinn Fraser, a book coach, writer, and champion for underrepresented voices in non-fiction publishing. Together, we explore Vicky’s refreshingly honest journey through an ADHD and autism diagnosis in her forties, and discuss what it means to navigate a world not quite built for you. From the challenges of the traditional publishing...

In today’s episode of Speaking of Inclusion… I am joined by Erefa Coker, a specialist in talent acquisition and cross-cultural integration. Erefa is the founder of Imo Talent, a company bridging the gap between global organisations and top talent from Africa. In this conversation we explore how biases, both conscious and unconscious, surface when it comes to considering the skills and expertise of...

In today's episode of Speaking of Inclusion, I am joined by Esi Hardy, founder of Celebrating Disability. Esi is an advocate, facilitator and consultant who works with organisations to develop truly inclusive workplaces for disabled people. Our conversation begins with Esi sharing a personal story of the challenges she faced trying to organise accessible equipment for a holiday; an experience...

In today’s episode of Speaking of Inclusion… I am joined by Phil Willcox, founder of Emotion at Work Consulting. Phil and I spend time exploring the full spectrum of emotions we experience not just at work, but in every part of our lives, and, crucially, how we can recognise, manage, and respond to them in real time. We began our conversation by honestly acknowledging our own emotional states as w...

In today's episode of Speaking of Inclusion, I am joined by my wonderful friend Gary Parsons, a leadership mental health and wellbeing advocate and professional speaker. Our conversation centres the crucial topic of mental health in leadership and explores how leaders need to care for their wellbeing to effectively support their teams. Gary shares his unique perspective, drawing from his experienc...

In today's episode of Speaking of Inclusion, I am joined by Verity Glasgow , the CEO of One Plus One, a charity that delves into the complexities of human interactions and relationships. This chat is all about the crucial role relationships play in our personal and professional lives, and the importance of creating and maintaining high-quality relationships. We also talk about recognising the...

In today's episode of Speaking of Inclusion, I am joined by Matt Phelan , Co-founder and Co-CEO of the Happiness Index, an innovative platform that measures employee engagement and happiness. Aside from having a a great laugh at one another, Matt and I also talk about the pivotal role emotions play in the workplace and how they serve as crucial data points. We discuss how understanding these e...

In today's episode of Speaking of Inclusion, I am joined by the fantastic Joanne Lockwood. Jo is a workshop facilitator, organisational consultant, and a professional speaker on creating cultures of conscious inclusion. We picked our way through many tricky topics of conversation, from societal norms to politics, and the impact of Donald Trump. Jo also opened up to me about why she doesn't like th...

In today's episode of Speaking of Inclusion... I am joined by Priscilla Leigh! Priscilla is a Swiss born, French raised, Ghanaian psycho-audiologist (say that three times fast!) who has an extraordinary career journey and an unparalleled curiosity for exploring the intricate relationship between our auditory system and our behaviour, mood, and emotions. Priscilla shares with me her unique expe...

In today’s episode of Speaking of Inclusion... I am joined by Dr. Enya Doyle, also known as "The Harassment Dr". Together, we get into the potential messiness of the crucial topic of sexual harassment and how to maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all employees - especially at this time of year! Enya delves into the complexities of harassment beyond gender, drawing upon Kimberlé Crenshaw...

In today's episode of Speaking of Inclusion... I am joined by the legend that is Jackie Handy! Together, we get into the nitty gritty of inclusivity, beyond the token gestures often seen in corporate settings. Jackie shares her journey, including her transformative experience on the Camino de Santiago, unveiling the profound realisations that came with understanding the "story behind the story." W...

In today’s episode of Speaking of Inclusion , I am joined by Cat Wildman, founding director of Powered by Diversity. Together, we explore the critical importance of data in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within organisations. Cat shares her personal journey from a STEM background to creating a comprehensive EDI framework designed to unravel systemic issues like the gender pay gap...

In today's episode of Speaking of Inclusion... I'm joined by Marie Coombes of "We Restore Calm" and we're talking all about conflict! Marie is not just an expert in conflict—she's a master at transforming it as a tool for understanding and growth. In our conversation, we discuss into the intricacies of conflict and why it’s an inevitable, and not necessarily negative, part of our lives. We also ex...

In this episode, we're talking all about the "Work" of inclusion, and how to stay engaged and motivated when it starts to get hard (because it does)! Today I am joined by the incredible DEI speaker and consultant Grace Mosuro, and we talk about everything! From the importance of proper name pronunciation and how it affects career progression, to the complexities of addressing race equity in the wo...

In this episode I am joined by behavioural threat management specialist Philip Grindell to talk all about workplace hostility. Today Philip shines his light of expertise on the complexities of being a people manager, carrying the burden of complaints, and effectively handling issues that disrupt the status quo. We talk all about the critical importance of conducting professional, unbiased investig...

In today's episode I am joined by Alex Williams, a dedicated mental health practitioner and speaker with over 20 years of clinical experience. Alex is a no BS kind of a person (and I love that!) and in this conversation we get real about mental health and wellbeing, and share our thoughts on the emotional and social needs that we as humans have in society today. Here are three top takeaways from o...

Joining me today is Trish Rimmer, a fabulous menopause and emotional well-being coach, who will share her invaluable insights and personal experiences, and tell us all about how the menopause is a "full body" experience - for people of any gender who have a female reproductive system. In this episode, Trish shares on how fluctuating oestrogen levels during menopause can dramatically affe...

Episode 2/2... Once again I am joined today by the wonderful Andreena Leeanne - and this time we're talking about reflections, transparency, and the power of authentic conversation. In the days following the recording of our previous episode (go back and listen to us talking about Employee Networks now!!), Andreena and I spoke privately about some significant observations we both had surroundi...

Heads up - Episode 1 of 2... (we're trying something new!) In this episode of Speaking of Inclusion... I get into conversation Andreena Leeane on the impact of employee networks. We talk all about the benefits of creating spaces for marginalised groups, the significance of recognising privilege and the essential role of allies in creating inclusive environments. Through sharing her own persona...

As we mark the start of Pride month this June, in today's episode of Speaking of Inclusion... I want to talk about the often misunderstood topic of asexuality with my fabulous guest, Aubri Lancaster. Aubri is a sex education specialist and a grey romantic asexual person who shares invaluable insights into the asexual community and its diverse experiences. We also talk a lot about pleasure, int...

This week I am joined by the remarkable Cynthia Fortlage, a Belfast-born Canadian raised global gender diversity speaker and consultant, and we are getting into "Acceptance without Understanding." In this episode, Cynthia shares her wealth of knowledge and personal experiences touching on gender, identity, diversity, and the challenge of navigating societal norms. We discuss the complex...

In this bite-sized episode of our "Explained! In 10 or less..." series, we're diving deep into the nuanced concept of conditional empathy. What it is, why we need to understand it, and how it can shape our behaviours. Here are three key takeaways from this episode: 1. Empathy vs. Conditional Empathy While empathy allows us to resonate with the experiences of others, conditional empat...