The Disorienting Dilemma

Did this episode get you thinking, or did we miss the mark? Let us know by leaving us a message on SpeakPipe. Chris uses his hot question “hall pass” from Jake as he tries to understand a lived experience that he never considered until now. They discuss why going straight to “asking your Black friend” for the answer can be a costly short cut to valuable learning and brain changes. The discussion p...

Did this episode get you thinking, or did we miss the mark? Let us know by leaving us a message on SpeakPipe. Jake playfully tries to convince his Dad that his conservative and traditional “Canadian” values are under attack and they need defending. Chris worries aloud that he might be oversharing before telling his own story about when he defended his turf. Throughout the episode, they wind their...

Did this episode get you thinking, or did we miss the mark? Let us know by leaving us a message on SpeakPipe. TW: Within the first 10 minutes of this episode, Chris and Jake reference in passing an incident of institutionalized sexual abuse and despite having permission have beeped the name of their friend throughout. Forward to the 12:25 mark of the episode to skip the reference and discussion. I...

Did this episode get you thinking, or did we miss the mark? Let us know by leaving us a message on SpeakPipe. In this episode, Jake reminds Chris of the time some well-intentioned soup kitchen volunteers wanted to help “Billy-bob” change his life by sending him off to the church farm to be reformed. While cautioning against living by lists and checkboxes, Chris contemplates the how 12-step program...

In this episode, Chris and Jake attempt to dig into what matters most about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during the 2022 Academy Award show. By interrogating what else was happening in that moment, they discuss how traditional responses to incidents of workplace violence often focus to narrowly on the behaviour and miss the broader context. Chris asks Jake what a restorative approach would look...

Did this episode get you thinking, or did we miss the mark? Let us know by leaving us a message on SpeakPipe. In this episode, Jake and Chris explore parallels between an Ebony Magazine’s 1950’s marketing campaign ‘‘The Secret of Selling the Negro” and current Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. Estimated to become a $15.4 Billion dollar market by 2026, but showing few positive results...

Did this episode get you thinking, or did we miss the mark? Let us know by leaving us a message on SpeakPipe. Even in the most difficult and trying situations, human beings tend to ‘other’ people who may be experiencing the same trauma and difficulties, because ‘they’ are not ‘us’. We see this playing out in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As of March 18th, an estimated 6.5 million Ukrainians hav...

Did this episode get you thinking, or did we miss the mark? Let us know by leaving us a message on SpeakPipe. In this episode, Jake shares a personal story where doing the right thing left him feeling terrible for weeks. Together, we explore why doing the right thing sometimes makes us feel bad. Why do we have these bad feelings? What does it mean when we find ourselves in a similar situation. Sho...

Chris and Jake are excited to return for a second season to explore the disorienting dilemmas we face as we try to answer the question: How do I think, believe and act in an inclusive world? Stay tuned! Disorienting Dilemma on YouTube https://www.rw.institute/the-disorienting-dilemma

No longer the 5th grader shoving you into a locker for your lunch money, the bully's tactics have changed, especially in the workplace. Jake and Chris discuss.  Click here for more .  Heart Politics by Fran Peavey

What does Bitcoin and Beanie Babies have in common? Not a lot, it turns out, but leave it up to Chris and Jake to connect those dots, which somehow leads to a highly engaging conversation on the importance of framing the volunteer experience. Links and resources . 

In a strikingly personal episode, Chris opens up about his experience with Tourette's Syndrome, to which Jake has had a front row seat since its onset. Along the way they cover microaggressions, neurodiversity in and out of the workplace, and – this may be a new one for some of you – microinterventions. The only problem? When a Tourette's sufferer discusses the syndrome, it shows up in a big way. ...

Giving back has a colonialism problem. However in the right place their heart is, the "helper" is often the gatekeeper, delegating resources from a position of power, and in effect othering the "lesser."   What if instead they wrote a really terrible Christmas song ?   Read more on the episode here . 

Chris and Jake continue their conversation on restorative justice.  David Eagleman - Livewired

A woman's dog is taken. Police respond and charges are pressed, but she still doesn't have her dog. What good is a justice system that benefits "the people," but not victims? 

"If we delete it, maybe it didn't happen." Despite the producer's best efforts to, ahem, cancel this episode, Jake and Chris open wide the can of worms known as cancel culture.  More resources and links .    Brandi Carlile - That Wasn't Me

Jake and Chris reminisce on how they met (though their accounts of the experience vary), leading to a discussion on what may surprise some to be among the most ancient of human behaviors: helping.  

Corporations are skilled at presenting comforting statistics that demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion – and sometimes, they even take a small stand. But are they just virtue signaling? Experts in the field of CSR and Restorative Justice, Chris and Jake dissect the good, the bad, and the ugly that results from companies (and individuals!) patting themselves on the back...

Jake thinks it's theft, Chris is curious about how cultural appropriation is different from assimilation.   Visit The Disorienting Dilemma's website for show notes and more info. 

Chris and Jake discuss the April 2018 incident where two black men were asked to leave a Philadelphia Starbucks and then arrested for ... being black. What should a corporate response to racism look like? And is one-and-done diversity training even effective?  For show notes and more info, click here . 

Chris experiences a disorienting dilemma upon learning that his aggressive, straightforward approach in work meetings does not always translate well.  For more info and show notes, click here . 

Chris and Jake dive in the deep end as they question their decision to start a podcast, reflect on the relevance of two male voices in the world of inclusivity, and encounter an unexpected disorienting dilemma in the process. Click here or for show notes and resources.