DEI After 5 with Sacha

Black fatigue is more than being tired. It is the cumulative, intergenerational toll of navigating racism over time—and that stress can affect the body, mind, relationships, and sense of belonging. In this episode of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson is joined by Dr. Mary Frances Winters and Marisha Winters-Reese for a powerful conversation about Black fatigue, the physiological effects of racism, and w...

After last week’s conversation on Tall Poppy Syndrome and how high-achieving Black women and women of color are often cut down in the workplace, this episode asks a different question: what do we build instead? In this Part 2 episode of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson reflects on the move from radical self-reliance to intentional community. For solopreneurs, women entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and...

What happens when high-achieving Black women and women of color enter organizations, do the work, name the problems, and then become the problem? In this episode of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson welcomes back attorney Brittany Hale for a timely conversation about Tall Poppy Syndrome, workplace abuse, psychological safety, and the patterns that push talented women out of organizations. Together, they...

Sometimes the lessons we need are hiding in plain sight—even in a children’s movie. In this episode of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson and Dr. Evelyn Carter continue their conversation on racism, power, and the systems that shape our everyday lives. Using Frozen 2 as an unexpected entry point, they unpack themes of settler colonialism, collective liberation, accountability, and what it means to “do th...

Racial bias is not always loud or obvious, but it still shapes how people are seen, treated, believed, and included. In this Season 13 opener of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson talks with Dr. Evelyn Carter, social psychologist and author of Was That Racist?: How to Detect, Interrupt, and Unlearn Bias in Everyday Life , about how bias works, how it connects to power, and why historical context still ma...

DEI After 5 is back for Season 13 —and this season will look a little different. We’re revisiting timely conversations from past seasons, bringing in new guests, and exploring what the future of DEI, inclusion, workplace culture, and psychological safety looks like in today’s anti-DEI climate. Tune in as we ask what’s changing, what still matters, and where we go from here. This is a public episod...

The language around workplace culture may keep changing, but the real work has not gone away. Employees still want to feel respected, recognized, supported, and safe enough to tell the truth about their experiences. In this replay episode of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson reflects on the future of this work and why organizations need more than one-off workshops or performative statements. The convers...

Psychological safety is more than a workplace term. It shows up in the everyday experiences employees have with their leaders, their teams, and the systems around them. In this episode of High Velocity Radio, host Lee Cantor talks with Sacha Thompson, founder of The Equity Equation, about creating authentic workplaces where people feel valued, heard, and able to contribute. Sacha shares how leader...

Discomfort is part of leadership, especially when the work requires us to question old habits, listen differently, and make room for experiences beyond our own. But too often, fear of saying the wrong thing or not having the perfect answer keeps people stuck. In this replay episode of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson talks with Nadia Nagamootoo about what it means to lead through discomfort, complexity...

Women of color are often expected to navigate workplaces that were not built with them in mind—while still leading, performing, adapting, and carrying the emotional weight of being “the only” or “one of few.” In this replay episode of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson talks with Vanity Jenkins and Rachel Vicente about what it takes to create healthier workplace environments where women of color can lead...

Caring deeply about people, justice, and change can be meaningful—but it can also be exhausting. When the world feels heavy and the work never seems to end, compassion fatigue and burnout can quietly take hold. In this replay episode of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson talks with Dr. Rebecca Eldridge, a psychotherapist specializing in compassion and self-compassion, about how to recognize stress, prote...

Change does not happen only through statements, strategies, or training rooms. Often, it begins in relationships—with the stories we hear, the people we love, and the moments that help us see the world differently. In this replay from Season 1 of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson talks with consultant and anti-racism author Jarrett Carroll about the personal experiences that shaped his commitment to equ...

We are living in a time when it can feel easier to disconnect, dismiss, or retreat than to stay in conversation. But building bridges across difference requires something deeper: grace, space, reflection, and the willingness to see one another’s humanity. In this replay episode of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson talks with Yvonne Alston, CEO of Indelible Impressions Consulting, about what it means to...

DEI work does not happen in a vacuum. As political tension, polarization, and anti-DEI efforts continue to shape public conversation, those dynamics show up inside workplaces too. In this replay episode of DEI After 5, Sacha Thompson talks with Sara Taylor of Deep See Consulting about the future of DEI in a contentious political landscape. With decades of experience in the field, Sara offers a gro...

Wellness at work isn’t just yoga and apps—it’s community, honesty, and how we treat people when things feel uncertain. In this episode, Sacha Thompson talks with wellness coach and former record executive KutiMac about self-care that actually holds up in real life. Kuti shares his journey from the music industry to keynote speaking and workplace wellness, and we get into what it means to stay grou...

When life feels heavy or uncertain, resilience is not just about pushing through alone. It is about finding your village, caring for yourself, and creating the support systems that help you keep moving. In this episode, Sacha Thompson talks with Shazad Carbaidwala , an experienced coach, leader, speaker, and former SAP professional based in the Chicagoland area. Shazad shares lessons from his care...

This is Part 2 of my conversation with Stacey Gordon. In this episode, we zoom out to the bigger issue: the systems people have been naming for decades—and why this moment feels louder, messier, and harder to navigate. We talk about how increased access to information has raised awareness, but also created an environment where misinformation spreads fast and people struggle to separate truth from...

A lot of organizations didn’t suddenly “get tired” of DEI—many were fatigued long before 2020, then sprinted to copy what competitors were doing. In this episode, Sacha Thompson talks with inclusive leadership expert Stacey Gordon about what’s real, what’s performative, and how leaders build equitable practices that actually hold up under pressure. We discuss DEI fatigue, corporate inauthenticity,...

When the world feels nonstop, self-care can’t just be bubble baths and “take a break” advice—it has to include boundaries, community, and a realistic way to keep going without losing yourself. In this episode, Sacha reconnects with therapist and social justice advocate Ashley McGirt for a grounded conversation about exhaustion, advocacy, and what it actually looks like to reset. Ashley shares less...

Parenting right now can feel like trying to protect your kids from the world and prepare them for it at the same time. In this episode, Sacha Thompson talks with Pooja Kothari about how parents can navigate today’s global and national issues without fear-based messaging—by building critical thinking , media literacy , and the habit of questioning assumptions . Pooja shares her journey from public...

In this episode, we are sharing the Fully Flavored Business Podcast episode, in which co-founders Lace Flowers and Sutton McCraney welcome Sacha Thompson, a leadership development strategist and founder of the Equity Equation. Sacha shares her insights on building psychologically safe, high-performing workplace cultures and the importance of inclusion in organizational settings. She discusses her...

In this episode of DEI After Five, we continue our insightful conversation with wellness coach KutiMack, diving deep into the crucial topic of sleep and its significance for overall wellness. The discussion highlights the modern struggle of feeling numb to stress and anxiety due to the normalization of these feelings in our daily lives. Kuti emphasizes the body’s remarkable adaptability and resili...

The cannabis industry is growing—but most people are still confused about the basics: hemp vs. marijuana , what’s legal where, and what opportunities are actually emerging for jobs, entrepreneurship, and inclusive access. In this episode, Sacha Thompson talks with Nicole Vanderhorst , CEO & Founder of W.H. Farms Co. (North Carolina), about building a vertically integrated botanical manufacturing b...

In February 2025, the U.S. Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter that signaled aggressive enforcement around race-conscious programs—sparking widespread fear, fast policy changes, and real disruption across higher education. In this episode, we break down what that guidance set in motion, how it impacted student support and campus trust, and what student-centered leadership look...

In this podcast swap episode of the Improve Work Podcast, host Daniela Tancau welcomes Sacha Thompson, founder of Equity Equation, to explore how team leaders can enhance their relationships with team members. The conversation delves into essential leadership skills, approaches to managing both their own emotions and those of their team, and the importance of trust in fostering a healthy workplace...