The Inclusion Bites Podcast

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Alexandra Bellitter from Shimmer ADHD Coaching to explore what neuro-inclusive coaching looks like in practice, and why traditional coaching approaches can miss the mark for ADHD and other neurodivergent clients. Together they unpack how small shifts in structure and communication can reduce overwhelm and make support feel genuinely person-centred. Alexandra shares exa...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Lindsay Mitchison, an award-winning disabled entrepreneur and founder of NeoWalk, to talk about what it means to “break the disability mould” and reclaim agency after life-changing health events. Lindsay shares the story of a catastrophic MRSA infection following knee surgery, the long period of pain and loss of mobility that followed, and why choosing amputation becam...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by global DEI expert and former Chief Diversity Officer Wema Hoover to explore what sits behind today’s DEI backlash and what organisations can do to sustain inclusion in uncertain times. They discuss how misinformation and zero-sum thinking have distorted the purpose of DEI, and why many organisations are reacting by quietly removing language or scaling back initiatives....

Joanne Lockwood is joined by speaker and coach Nick Elston to explore what honest storytelling can unlock—for individuals, audiences, and workplace conversations that are often hard to have. Nick shares how lived experience of obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, burnout, and a breakdown shaped his relationship with speaking, and why telling the truth without a filter can build trust and connec...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by behavioural scientist and strategic inclusion expert Dr Liz Wilson to explore what actually makes workplace equity stick. Rather than treating inclusion as something achieved by changing minds through training alone, they focus on the behavioural science of systems, processes, and organisational “architecture” that makes inclusive action the default. Liz explains why m...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by transformational coach and speaker James R. Elliott to unpack what confidence, balance, and success look like when you stop relying on the corporate ladder for validation. Drawing on James’s experience in global tech organisations and his shift into entrepreneurship after redundancy, they challenge the myth of corporate stability and the idea that working harder is alw...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by PR and communications specialist Sarah McCracken to explore how public relations can be used as a genuine tool for meaningful change, rather than “spin.” They unpack how organisations and individuals can align what they do with what they say publicly, build credibility, and communicate with intention in a noisy media landscape. The conversation looks at what makes a st...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Saba Ali for a wide-ranging conversation about speaking truth to power and turning advocacy into institutional change. Saba shares her personal story, including childhood abuse and cultural abuse, periods of homelessness and addiction, and the long-term work of therapy and recovery that helped her reclaim her voice. She reflects on the impact of intersectionality in he...

Joanne Lockwood speaks with Susie Green, co-founder and co-director of Anne Health, about what it takes to provide compassionate, medically responsible healthcare for trans people at a time when access is increasingly politicised. Susie shares how becoming the parent of a trans child led her into advocacy and support work, and how early isolation and the search for community shaped her understandi...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by learning and development manager Emma Parnell to explore what burnout can look like, how it can creep up even when you understand the theory, and what recovery requires in practice. Emma shares her own experience of reaching a point where stress, grief, and depleted wellbeing left her feeling unable to function in a new role, prompting her to step away and reassess how...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Anna VanAgtmael, founder of Wandering Roots, to explore what it looks like to step off the career conveyor belt and build a life around purpose, connection, and managed risk. Anna shares how building a laboratory from the ground up gave her early entrepreneurial confidence, but it was an unexpected neck surgery and months of enforced pause that crystallised a deeper tr...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Charlie Hart (Awesome Charlie) for a wide-ranging conversation on neurodiversity at work, grounded in Charlie’s experiences of late diagnosis and a career in HR. Charlie shares what it was like to run into burnout, overwhelm and “meeting behaviours” that didn’t match workplace expectations, and how discovering autism, ADHD and complex PTSD reframed years of feeling “br...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by autism advocate and author Crystal Jordan for a conversation about what it really means to “redefine normal” through the lens of autism and neurodiversity. Crystal shares how her son Zachariah’s diagnosis shaped her mission to amplify unheard voices, educate others, and push for environments where autistic people are treated with dignity and supported to thrive. They d...

Joanne Lockwood speaks with Christian Elliot, a certified personal trainer, nutritionist, life coach, and founder of Healing United, about holistic approaches to health and the idea of moving “from toxins to transformation.” They explore why many people feel stuck in cycles of symptom management, discussing chronic conditions, medication dependence, and the practical and emotional challenges of co...

Joanne Lockwood speaks with Georges Córdoba about his decade-long experience of living with and recovering from stage IV melanoma, including multiple surgeries and the realities of enduring treatment while trying to protect family life and work. Georges describes the turning point that led him to step away from chemotherapy and pursue a holistic health pathway, and how that shift reshaped his unde...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by social scientist and facilitator Lorne Epstein for a wide-ranging conversation about unconscious bias, how our brains fill in gaps, and what it takes to build environments where people feel safe, accepted, and able to contribute. They explore the relationship between belonging and psychological safety, including how fear of judgement can shut people down and drive defe...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Julie Kratz to explore what “allyship in action” looks like when DEI faces backlash and misunderstanding. Julie shares how her own corporate experience led her to focus on belonging, psychological safety, and the day-to-day behaviours that shape whether people feel included at work. Together they unpack how performative allyship can replace real change, and why simplif...

Joanne Lockwood speaks with Dominique Dehaene, National Director of Special Olympics Belgium, about how sport can be a practical gateway to fuller inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Dominique explains what is meant by IDD and why Special Olympics focuses on talent, opportunity, and competition rather than pity or lowered expectations. They explore how unif...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by brand marketing consultant Samta Datta for a wide-ranging conversation about why genuine connection matters more than polished branding. Samta shares how her work centres on understanding people’s insights, pain points and passions, and argues that real resonance starts with connecting to yourself, not constructing a marketable persona. Together they unpack authenticit...

Joanne Lockwood speaks with transformational coach and chartered accountant Sandeep Amar Gupta about what it takes to build businesses that grow without losing their humanity. Together they explore the relationship between the external world of actions and results, and the inner world of values, purpose, and consciousness. Sandeep distinguishes spirituality from religion and frames it as a univers...

Joanne Lockwood speaks with former army officer and leadership coach Taran Kumar about his journey from hospitality into the military, and later into the corporate world. Taran describes what drew him into service, the selection process, and the leadership lessons he learned by leading troops in extreme environments. He recounts a high-altitude conflict in which he was seriously wounded, the reali...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Alyssa Dver, founder of the ERG Leadership Alliance and the American Confidence Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation about what belonging really looks like and how organisations can sustain it. They explore how fear and defensive behaviours can shape culture, why psychological safety matters for performance, and how managers can listen to understand rather than s...

Joanne Lockwood speaks with Steph VanHaverbeke, co-founder of the House of Coaching, about what happens when you stop chasing a fixed result and allow space for creativity and renewal. Steph shares a pivotal moment after a business bankruptcy where choosing a day of music They explore how perfectionism and constant performance can become self-imposed constraints, and how reframing ‘baggage’ into u...

Joanne Lockwood speaks with mental health practitioner Alex Williams about what it really takes to recover after life’s setbacks, and why “getting back up” is less about quick fixes and more about foundations. Alex shares his own story of profound childhood trauma and the long tail it had on his self-worth, relationships and sense of agency. Despite building a career in mental health, he describes...

Joanne Lockwood is joined by John Sands, an ERG trainer, to unpack how organisations can turn difficult, polarising moments into constructive conversations and tangible workplace improvements. They explore what Employee Resource Groups are for, how they create safer spaces and belonging, and what it takes for ERGs to thrive through genuine organisational support, sponsorship, and resources. The co...