Eyes On Whiteness

In this final episode of the Whiteness as Shape-Shifter series, Maureen turns the finger inward. From the loudness of fascism to the subtle betrayals of liberalism, this series has traced how whiteness hides and adapts. Here, the focus is on the most difficult terrain: the reflexes that live inside the body, the mind, and the spirit. Drawing wisdom from Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Paulo Freire,  Rich...

Mini-series Part 3: The Shape-Shift of Good Intentions Still White at the Core In this episode, Maureen moves the lens from pointing the finger outward to turning it inward, tracing how whiteness shape-shifts inside us, softening edges, pleasing, and protecting the status quo even when wrapped in the language of justice. Drawing from Angela Davis, bell hooks, James Baldwin, Stokely Carmichael, and...

Mini-series Part 2: The Safehouse of Neutrality In this episode, Maureen continues the deep dive into how whiteness shape-shifts...this time through the soft power of institutional neutrality. From school boards banning books to nonprofits redirecting equity funds, neutrality is used as a strategy, not a stance. With help from Audre Lorde and Ta-Nehisi Coates, Maureen explores how whiteness hides...

Mini-series Whiteness is Shape-Shifting Pt. 1: When Fascism Rebrands — Elon Musk and the Aesthetics of Whiteness  In this episode, Maureen dives into the shape-shifting nature of whiteness—how it survives by mutating into rebellion, reason, and innovation. She takes us into the political spectacle surrounding Elon Musk’s “America Party,” his tech-fueled propaganda, and the cultural silence that fo...

In this episode, Maureen dives into the powerful practice of nonjudgment—not as a soft alternative to accountability, but as a path to clarity, discernment, and principled leadership. She unpacks how judgment (especially internalized) can cloud our ability to lead with integrity, and how nonjudgment offers a way to pause, inquire, and root critique in care. Through a close look at the recent New Y...

In this episode of Eyes on Whiteness , we’re exploring what it means to decenter power and privilege—especially in times of overwhelm, urgency, or fear. Maureen invites you into a vulnerable, provocative reflection on how systems like white supremacy and patriarchy teach us to equate control with care—and how that shaping shows up in everyday leadership roles: parenting, teaching, activism, art, n...

In a world that rewards urgency, overwork, and perfectionism, what does it look like to return to ourselves—not through punishment, but through presence? This week, I share a personal story of falling out of alignment with my commitments—not from malice, but from fear, fatigue, and scarcity. I reflect on what it took to course-correct, to soften instead of self-judge, and to rebuild a rhythm roote...

In this episode, Maureen reflects on the gap so many justice-centered organizations face between what they say they value—and how it actually feels to work inside them. She explores the concept of Intersectional Integrity as a practice—not of perfection, but of presence. You’ll hear reflections on: What it means to lead from alignment rather than collapse How shame functions as a tool of white sup...

In this episode of Eyes on Whiteness , Maureen invites educators—teachers, counselors, staff, and school leaders—into a reflection on introspection as a form of resistance . Not resistance through exhaustion or constant urgency. But resistance through honesty. Through pause. Through returning to self. In institutions shaped by white supremacy culture, educators are often expected to perform superh...

Welcome back....again.  It´s Season 3!  In this return episode of Eyes on Whiteness , Maureen reflects on the global rise in censorship—from banned books and criminalized drag to the erasure of murals and public memory. But this moment is not just political—it’s cultural, spiritual, and creative. Drawing from history and present-day resistance, Maureen shares how artists have long transmuted oppre...

Bari Schwartz is a 37 years old Cisgender white Jewish woman who has been rumbling with and doing courageous work around understanding & dismantling systems and impacts of racism for decades.  After graduating from Johns Hopkins with a master's degree in school counseling and spending 12 years working in and with Baltimore City Schools as well as local nonprofits serving the youth in Balt...

Dohee Lee (She/Her) is an artist, Ritualist and Educator. She was born on Jeju Island in South Korea, now, living in Huichin unceded Ohlone territory Oakland, CA as a 1st generation immigrant. Her creative vision comes from traditional Korean music, singing, drumming and dance which is rooted in Korean indigenous ritual. Since her arrival in the US she has been a vital contributor to both the trad...

ANDDDDDD, WE'RE BACK!   We're so grateful to kick off part 2 of season 2 with the brilliant and hilarious Sonya Renee Taylor!  We have an incredible conversation tracking where in the world is Sonya, how opening up to just listening and being has created space for her ancestors to offer quite an addition to her journey and a deep dig into her take on Intersectional Integrity.  We'll...

We're coming soon with Part 2 of Season 2! In the meantime, a quick share over here: Diedra and Maureen are going to start a weekly (most of the time) series called Transmuting Tuesdays which will be on our Youtube and Instagram pages.  You can expect this series to be a little more impromptu and shorter than the podcast has been.  This first one is in response to the Overturning of Roe. Y If...

We want to take a moment to send love, acknowledgment, and presence to you as you process and potentially transmute your experience, understanding, and impact of the racial and political violence of the murders in Buffalo, NY, and Orange County, CA.  After the mass murders sitting so heavy on our hearts and in our spirits, Diedra asks Maureen to have a conversation to help make sense of how whiten...

"Vulnerability is the core of any self-inward journey....it's been decades of chipping away to get to that vulnerability and to be able to live there. " - Derek Canty Derek Canty is a father of 7, a dedicated partner, a fairy godfather mentor to many and the CEO and founder of Winning Edge, a leadership development company based in Las Vegas.   Today, Derek serves as a coach, and tr...

"Love and healing, real healing, happens at the rupture." - Dr. Adam Falkner, who shall get a t-shirt with this brilliance on it! Join us to listen to this powerful conversation about Adam's takes on Intersectional Integrity! Dr. Adam Falkner is a writer, educator, and race & equity strategist.  He identifies as a White Queer Cis Man. He is the author of The Willies (Winner of t...

"We are in the apocalypse, give thanks!"- amara tabor-smith in reflecting on the truth being revealed in these times. Join us as amara shares her brilliant perspectives on what Intersectional Integrity is to her. amara tabor-smith (she/her/they/we) is a black, queer woman born and raised on unceded Ramaytush (Rah-MAH-Tush)  Ohlone land currently known as San Francisco, and now lives on u...

In our kick-off for season 2, Diedra and Maureen start with our excitement for the incredible season ahead.  We share the theme of this season "What does Intersectional Integrity mean to you?" This episode is the two of us in conversation about what Intersectional Integrity means to us, as we practice the work of Transmuting white supremacy and patriarchy. Listeners get a peek into our c...

In a follow-up to our election episode where we talked about the need to stay vigilant, we invited Christine and Shelly who have been researching the ways White Nationalist and White Supremacist groups have been building in the last few years. Christine and Shelly share their research and analysis of the ways we must be aware of and counter the rise of White Nationalism going into 2021. The deep o...

UnSuk Zucker is a Korean American cis-gender woman,  an amazing advocate, educator, and parent, focused on equity and justice, not only around her but also with a relentless commitment to doing the work within herself.  This podcast is filled with raw, heart wrenching and glorious examples modeling vulnerability and transparency as she lives this work as a parent, educator, and professional leader...

Diedra and Maureen spend some time using our tool "Transmuting White Supremacy and Patriarchy" to discuss how this election day is for each of us. Note, it's recorded before we have ANY information and we're as curious as you to see how it lands on the day after the election when you all hear it! Transmuting White Supremacy and Patriarchy, for us, means practicing Introspection...

We welcome you all back to part 2 of a conversation with Dr. JuanCarlos Arauz, a brilliant educator, facilitator, leader for equity in a reunion, as the three of us realize we haven’t been in the same place in nearly 3 years. We discuss what it might be like to stand in our deepest energy source as one that has the potential to transcend the social construct of our given identities and how that he...

Diedra is back!  We have a reunion with our dear friend and colleague, JuanCarlos.  This is the first of a two-part conversation where we go deep into intersections of our racial and gender identities. In part 1 we explore the depths and interconnections of white supremacy and patriarchy and how they play out in our socially constructed identities and the vulnerable ways we do our intra/interperso...

Maureen talks with her sister-friend, Leidene King.  Leidene is a brilliant educator, facilitator, and healer who delves deep into the ways that she has experienced whiteness in healing and metaphysical spaces as a black woman and the struggle of the concepts of “we are one” and “nothing comes into your life uninvited” when we have such different experiences in the world based on the skin we’re in...