DiversityNL Podcast

Stephanie welcomes special guest Maria Murphy, an expert in feminist theory, gender and sexuality studies, and media communications. Maria discusses her 12-year academic journey at the University of Pennsylvania and her challenges in advocating for inclusivity and diversity, particularly in onboarding trans employees. Back in Canada and working with Bloom Funding, Maria shares her experiences with...

In this episode, we talk with a businessperson, musician, and newly acclaimed author, Steve Randell. Steve shares his insights on living a fulfilling life despite experiencing unimaginable tragedy, including the loss of his son, Zach. Through years of therapy and personal growth, he learned that happiness and grief can coexist. Steve discusses the importance of resilience, the power of treatment,...

We are joined by Joanna Brown, a notable figure in the tech space and the founder of Rivet, a consulting firm. Joanna discusses her journey in tech, emphasizing the importance of stepping outside of one’s comfort zone for growth. She shares her experience navigating her career while blending her personal and professional identities, mainly focusing on her queer identity. The conversation also touc...

In this engaging episode, Gina Battye returns to share her journey into the field of psychological safety and workplace cultures. She recounts her early career experiences that influenced her to start the Psychological Safety Institute. Gina delves into the responsibilities of leaders, HR, and managers in fostering a psychologically safe environment and offers practical tips for creating inclusive...

In this episode, Jacqueline Lee discusses the crucial role of immigration in Newfoundland, given the province's negative birth rate. She emphasizes the importance of improving immigration policies and support systems to help newcomers thrive. Jacqueline shares insights from various newcomers, highlighting the community's efforts and challenges in creating a welcoming environment. She discu...

Kelly Ryan talks about her diverse background, from chef to holistic nutritionist, and how it led her to create Nerdy Nutrition . Ryan shares her insights on the interconnectedness of personal health, workplace wellness, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Discussion includes understanding the needs of employees, implementing practical wellness solutions in the workplace, and the benefits...

Stephanie welcomes a special guest, Jeremy Bennett , back to the podcast to discuss techniques for calming the mind and improving one’s mindset. Sharing his journey with OCD, Jeremy delves into the brain’s inability to distinguish between actual events and thoughts and how this realization transformed his approach to life. He introduces the concept of the Reticular Activating System and emphasizes...

In this episode of DiversityNL Podcast, we are joined by Costanza Safatle , CEO of Newbornlander and former Dragon's Den participant. Cost anza shares her inspiring journey from immigration to entrepreneurship, shedding light on her personal and business definitions of success. She emphasizes the importance of time management, mentoring, and having a social impact, mainly through hiring and empowe...

This week, Stephanie talks with Joanna Brown to explore the concept of a growth mindset and its crucial role in entrepreneurship. Joanna shares her insights on resilience, navigating the tech industry, and the challenges of building a business. They discuss the importance of a supportive network and how mentors, allies, and authentic relationships contribute to professional and personal growth. Th...

Host Stephanie welcomes special guest Maria Murphy, who shares her intriguing journey from academia to queer performance and voice processing. Maria, with a background in music and music history, delves into how voice can explore gender and sexuality, talking about her PhD research on performance artists like Laurie Anderson. The conversation covers the fascinating history of voice processing tech...

In this episode, Kelly Ryan from Nerdy Nutrition discusses the significance of health and wellness programs for companies of all sizes. The conversation covers how small companies can implement wellness strategies, the benefits of focusing on employee's health, and practical tips for fueling the body with natural foods. They also delve into the impact of stress on digestion and overall well-being...

Meet Costanza, an immigrant entrepreneur and CEO of Newbornlander. Costanza shares her inspirational journey from arriving in Canada at 26 to becoming a commercial lawyer and eventually establishing her own business. She discusses the challenges and opportunities of being an immigrant and her experience in Dragon's Den. Costanza reveals how she taught herself to sew, started a business creating ba...

Stephanie chats with Jacqueline Lee, CEO of PolyUnity and co-founder of the women's peer group Tequity+. Jacqueline shares insights into the foundation and impact of Tequity+, a group that supports gender representation and facilitates DEI conversations among business leaders. The discussion covers the personal and professional growth fostered through these meetings, the challenges women face in t...

In this episode of The DiversityNL Podcast,  Rhodes Perry, a renowned DEI expert, author, and consultant, joins the show to discuss the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the workplace. The conversation delves into why some organizations are omitting 'equity' from their DEI efforts and the implications of this decision. Rhodes emphasizes the significance of creatin...

In this episode, Steve Randell, also known as Steve, shares his profound journey of dealing with his son Zach's mental health and addiction issues. Reflecting on their first informal meeting 12 years ago and Steve's passion for music, the conversation delves into the impact of addiction on families and the motivation behind Steve's book "My Child is an Addict: Navigating Through Your Child’s Addic...

In this episode of the DiversityNL Podcast, we sit down with Jeremy Bennett, a writer and advocate, to discuss his journey with OCD and anxiety. Beginning with symptoms in grade 7, Jeremy shares how he struggled with obsessive behaviours and rituals, eventually discovering the term OCD through a magazine article. His story highlights the importance of seeking help and the profound impact of sharin...

In this episode, Gina Battye , author of ' The Authentic Organization, ' discusses the comprehensive concept of psychological safety in the workplace. The conversation highlights the common misconceptions around speak-up culture and interpersonal risk-taking, and emphasizes the need for a multidimensional approach to creating a truly psychologically safe environment. Gina shares insights on the im...

Welcome to the DiversityNL podcast, where we explore real-life and vulnerable topics on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. I'm Stephanie Howlett, your guide on this journey to embrace and celebrate our differences.  I'm all about having real conversations with people who share their inspiring stories that challenge the status quo. Each episode unpacks the ways inclusion opens up doors, c...

Joanne Bath led teams committed to advancing life-changing health research and care in the Maritimes, across Canada, and beyond. With more than 20 years of experience in the philanthropic, health and health research fields, Bath’s knowledge and expertise have been instrumental to the success of major organizations over the years, including DMRF and the IWK Foundation. Over the past decade, Bath ha...

Morgen Mills is a former member of Canada's women's chess team.  She lives and works in Labrador as a publisher, consultant, and the co-owner of  Brack and Brine . She is also writing her PhD dissertation on Labrador literature, through Memorial University. https://brackandbrine.com/ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/infraction/live-it License code: ZPT6QDNFAO6...

Amy Harrison is the Founder & Force of Pixels & Pieces Design. She is a graphic and web designer from Halifax, Nova Scotia with over 20 years of experience. She is a neurodiverse optimist who wants to empower others so that we see opportunity. After spending time working in traditional environments like large government and academic institutions, she has cultivated her ideal lifestyle as a...

Gill Whelan is the founder and owner of Whelan Wellness Inc., and creator of the Whelan Wellness Virtual Bootcamp program: a holistic approach to Wellness. She works with clients globally to improve their wellness in order to grow into their absolute best selves, and live a purposeful and fulfilling life. She also hosts the podcast titled "For the Well of it", serving up powerful doses o...

Schuyler is a seasoned advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) with over two decades of experience. They hold a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional (CCIP) certification and has been recognized as an up-and-coming 2SLGBTQ+ leader by Pride at Work Canada’s Thrive program. They have helped build national momentum for non-profit and charitable organizations through fundrai...

An award-winning former CEO and seasoned entrepreneur, Cathy's focus today continues to be growth. With over 35 years of business leadership, her own company Bennett Group of Companies grew from a small group of service businesses to operations in commercial and industrial construction, industrial manufacturing, human resource support, service, retail, industrial supply, and real estate invest...

As Vice President Business Markets for RBC, Colin Krulicki is responsible for the overall management of RBC’s Small & Medium Size Business Client base across Atlantic Canada. His team of Leaders & Relationship Managers stretch across all 4 provinces in every city and most towns, and they would support over 9,500 clients. Colin has more than 29 years’ experience in the financial services se...