Law And Culture

Statistically, either you or someone who works with you has been, or is being bullied at work. It's hard to know where to turn when this scary and upsetting work environment is your daily reality. Go to HR? Just deal with it? quit? Get legal help? The questions swirl with very few clear answers. In today's episode, I had the honor of interviewing two experts in the field of workplace abuse. These...

In today's episode of Law and Culture, we revisit a workplace interaction from the 1970s TV drama "Emergency," a popular series about an LA-based fire rescue squad. In one episode, Kelly makes fun of Gage, who is portrayed as part Indigenous (Native American). The scene reflects workplace discomfort, unspoken expectations, and the "othering" of colleagues who are asked to work together despite und...

In this week's episode, Christel Best answers questions about workplace abuse and explains how leaders and colleagues can take action to prevent the various forms of harm it causes.

In this week's episode, I step into my role as the owner of Christel Best Training and sit down with my friend Sandy Forster to unpack the internet's fascination with the so-called "Coldplay Kiss Cam Catastrophe." Together, we explore the distinction between an office romance and an office affair, and examine the impact a public confrontation over a secret relationship can have on colleagues and f...

In this week's episode, I focus on recent headlines about two topics I have discussed in the past: the dangers of synthetic hair and civil rights violations in the workplace.  First, I take a look at a federal bill package brought before the U.S. Congress to protect women from deadly toxins in their beauty products, noting that women of color are more likely to be exposed to harmful chemicals than...

Today's podcast will feature five new and different human resources legal questions and how I might answer them. If you have a quirky, funny, or otherwise interesting HR/legal question you want to ask, please submit it to christel@christelbesttraining.com.

This is a Re-Air of a Law and Culture Classic! Today we delve into two cases that involve alleged harassment against employees who didn't "keep quiet" about who they are. They exercised their freedom of expression and it cost them their jobs. In one case, the employee showed tattoos at work and was reprimanded though other similarly situated employees also had tattoos but were not reprimanded. In...

In today's episode, we meet Captain Peter Murray, a Guyanese pilot who recalls his experience as a young man flying alone in a single-engine prop plane. Captain Murray describes his journeys across the Amazon Jungle to bring life-sustaining food to Amerindians and miners living beyond the reach of trucks and cars. His is a story of bravery, dedication, and humanitarian goodwill.

Kevin Lynch, manager of education for the National Constitution Center, joins me to discuss the living document that is our nation's Constitution. We examine how a nonpartisan analysis of the document is crucial to our democratic dialogue.

The studies are now public, and the results are concerning. The so-called "protectiveness" of synthetic braided hairstyles is more risky than protective. Recent research reveals that synthetic hair is not only harmful to the environment (as it ends up in landfills), but it may also be harmful to both the braider and the wearer.  In this week's episode, we explore the intersection of culture and la...

In today's episode, we revisit the reverse discrimination case of Ames v. Ohio Youth Services by listening to excerpts from the oral arguments presented before the U.S. Supreme Court. Hearing the attorneys' advocacy firsthand offers a more human and nuanced perspective on the legal analysis.

This episode originally aired December of 2024. Join us this week on Law and Culture for a look back and Christel's own journey and it's broader impact on how we view citizenship! In today's episode, I address questions I often get about being born in Germany, being an American citizen, and then becoming a citizen of Barbados during the pandemic. I also share why I chose to become a citizen of Bar...

This is a Re-Air of a Law and Culture classic!   Today's podcast will feature five new and different human resources legal questions and how I might answer them. If you have a quirky, funny, or otherwise interesting HR/legal question you want to ask, please submit it to christel@christelbesttraining.com .

In this episode, my friend Sandy Forster and I discuss the "French Paradox." How is it possible that many French people enjoy delectable sweets, rich, savory, creamy sauces, satisfying cheeses, and good wine, yet maintain relatively low rates of high blood pressure, elevated glucose, and high cholesterol? Join the conversation.

This week, I read an excerpt from the memoir of Melba Pattillo Beals, the Congressional Gold Medal recipient who chronicled her experience as one of the "Little Rock Nine" integrating Central High School in 1957. The passage comes from her powerful book, Warriors Don't Cry, which offers a firsthand account of the courage and resilience she and her peers demonstrated. Their story serves as a poigna...

In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments on whether students can opt out of classes that include books with LGBTQ+ themes. In this week's episode, I walk through the facts of the Mahmoud case and analyze them in light of past Supreme Court rulings on public school education and constitutional protections.

In this episode, I'm joined by Sandy Foster as we dive into the Netflix documentary Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing. Together, we explore what would drive a mother to transform her pre-teen daughter into a YouTube sensation—and the disturbing consequences that followed. From cruel pranks to criminal investigations and civil lawsuits, the film raises urgent questions about exploitation...

In this episode, we meet the five winners of the 2025 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, the nation's only juried prize focused on books that contribute to our understanding of race and diversity. What sets their works apart? Tune in and decide for yourself.

AI is everywhere! The latest social media trend is to create your own action-adventure hero using ChatGPT. Intrigued, I decided to hop on the AI bandwagon. In today's episode, I take you through my journey of creating a toy-like version of myself. Will you be inspired to do the same? Or does AI feel distant or even threatening?

For decades, sports mascots like "Chief Wahoo" and team names such as Redskins, Indians, and Braves have perpetuated harmful and inaccurate narratives about Indigenous cultures. In today's episode, we hear from a California public school teacher who wore feathers and waved a cardboard tomahawk while chanting gibberish in her high school trigonometry class—apparently, in an attempt to teach a chall...

In this episode, my guest, Sandy Forster, and I explore what has been called the "silver tsunami"—the phenomenon of people worldwide living well into their 80s and 90s. What does this mean for your family and lifestyle? Together, we delve into the realities of aging and how this stage of life can be joyful and provocative.

In this episode, my dear friend Sandy Forster joins me to explore the meanings of idioms, their origins, and how they have helped generations of people communicate. As you listen, feel free to join in as we test each other's knowledge of idioms. This episode is both fun and informative.

In America, families have many choices when it comes to educating their children. Of course, there is public school education. Less common options include private and parochial education. For most families, private and parochial school education is not an option because it would chew up a large chunk of their monthly budgets. Some families are able to use vouchers to help offset the cost of these...

In this episode, I speak with Lauren Marchaza, a parent in the Mentor Public Schools District who has been working to ensure her children receive a quality education that is compliant with state, federal, and local laws. Despite efforts from parents and school officials to provide a quality and lawful education, Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno has directed the Mentor school board to explain why the dis...

Meet Danielle Rivers Mitchell, owner of the trendy Madison Landis Bistro. Located on Barbados' south coast, the bistro offers a cohesive blend of American and Barbadian cuisine. In this episode, we talk about how Danielle went from life as an American originally from Alabama to being a restaurateur in the tropics. Let's listen and discover how Danielle's leap of faith brings culinary joy to so man...