Well, That Went Sideways!

The White Privilege Conference (WPC) is a powerful and unique learning opportunity that invites participants to learn about and practice anti-racism.  This episode features short conversations with conference participants as well as some highlights from past interviews with WPC founder Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. Sideways Pod is a proud sponsor of the conference and we encourage the Sideways Pod community...

In this episode, we talk with Sarah Leer about belonging and broadening diversity in traditional faith communities. Dr. Sarah Leer is a practical theologian who works with young people in the Presbyterian Church and in other faith-based institutions. Her work focuses on affirmation and deepening of belonging, especially in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ people. We spoke with Sarah Leer at the 2024 White...

In this episode, we talk with Ryan Virden about history and about the wound of whiteness. He's an educator, author, and the founder of LIR Cultural Coaching. We spoke with Ryan Virden at the 2024 White Privilege Conference.

In this episode, we talk with Christian Ortiz about using artificial intelligence to help improve communication and understanding around bias. He's an entrepreneur, founder of Mod Atlas Media, and the developer of Justice A.I.

In this episode, we talk with Heidi Burgess about intractable conflict and the challenges of dialogue. She is the co-founder and co-director of the Conflict Information Consortium. With her partner, Guy Burgess, they started the consortium while at the University of Colorado. Since their retirement, they continue to run it as an independent resource. They also maintain a website called Beyond Intr...

In this episode, we talk with Mary Zinn about strategies for having difficult conversations and about how engaging in conflict can help us learn and grow. She's been involved in conflict resolution for well over 30 years as an activist, educator, and mediator. Mary Zinn is also a member of the Well That Went Sideways! production team.

In this episode, we talk with Durryle Brooks about centering love in racial justice work, and about how he approaches diversity and social justice learning opportunities for leaders through his organization, Love and Justice Consulting. He's also the author of Reconceptualizing Love: Moving Towards a Critical Theory of Love in Education for Social Justice. We spoke with Durryle Brooks at the 2024...

In this episode, we talk with Antonio Williams about the power of the N-word. He is the founder and president of Leaders at Work Consulting. Antonio Williams has worked in education for over 25 years as a teacher, a department chair, and a senior administrator. We spoke with him at the 2024 White Privilege Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  This episode contains the use of the N-word in its entirety,...

In this episode, we talk with Cynthia Pesantez about the https://comadrespeakers.com/ . It's a different kind of speakers group. They use speaker events to leverage sustained community action. We spoke with Cynthia Pesantez at the 2024 White Privilege Conference .

In this episode, we talk with Marchell Taylor about his journey through childhood trauma, an undiagnosed brain injury, and incarceration. His story highlights the need for proper diagnosis and treatment for individuals in the criminal justice system. It's a need Marchell Taylor responded to himself by developing programs for inmates and by his work as a screener for TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury, an...

In this episode, we talk with Natalie Thoreson about centering love in the work of social justice and conflict resolution. They're a consultant and facilitator who works with individuals and organizations to bring about positive social change through love, compassion, and community. We spoke with Natalie Thoreson at the 2023 White Privilege Conference.

In this episode, we talk with Natarsha Prince Sanders about racial justice and spiritual development. She's a speaker, teacher, and community pastor, as well as a doctoral student at Columbia Theological Seminary.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Shemariah Arki about building community and promoting institutional equity in education. She is an educator, an activist, an organizer. She currently serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Africana Studies as well as the director of the Center for Pan African Culture, both at Kent State University in Ohio. Dr. Arki is also the founder and program di...

In this episode, we talk with Debby Irving about white privilege. She's a racial justice educator and author of the book, Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race. We spoke with Debbie Irving at the 2023 White Privilege Conference in Mesa, Arizona.

In this episode, we talk with Curtis Acosta about conflicts over ethnic studies and about humanizing education. He taught high school for over 20 years in Tucson, Arizona, and developed a groundbreaking Mexican-American studies program. The state of Arizona banned that program in 2010, despite several years of positive academic outcomes. The ban was later ruled unconstitutional. Curtis Acosta curr...

In this episode, we talk with Aaron Stark about his journey from an abusive childhood to almost carrying out a mass shooting, and then becoming an advocate for mental health services and gun control. His TED talk, entitled, I Was Almost a School Shooter, has over 14 million views.

On this episode, we talk with Erin Breeze about navigating conflict in divorce and transforming the way we look at divorce. She is a life after divorce strategist who works primarily with mothers through her program, Happy Home.

On this episode, we talk with Lisa Forbes about how she draws on her personal experience with trauma and incarceration to advocate for others who are struggling to re-enter society as restored citizens. And she also describes a simple technique called Tapping that has helped her deal with the emotional and physical effects of trauma. Lisa Forbes is an author and keynote speaker. Her book is titled...

In this episode, we talk with Dante King about the roots of racism in America. Dante King is the author of The 400 Year Holocaust: White America's Legal, Psychopathic and Sociopathic Black Genocide - and the Revolt Against Critical Race Theory. He is also a human resources professional and has taught at the University of California, San Francisco, and will soon be guest faculty at The Mayo Clinic...

On this episode, we talk with Jes Rau about pronouns, why they matter, and how we can respond to some of the common conflicts and apprehensions around using non-binary pronouns. Jes Rau is the Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training at Well Power, a large mental health service provider in Denver. They are also a member of the production team here at Well, That Went Sideways!

On this episode, we talk with Grace Gee about the healing power of art and storytelling. She is a Colorado-based artist, writer, and teacher, and much of our conversation centers on one of her recent projects called Bubbling Up. It's a public exhibit that invites members of the BIPOC community to write their stories of discrimination and injustice, and then non-BIPOC community members are invited...

Kimberlee Yolanda Williams is an educator, DEI consultant, workshop leader, speaker, certified life and health coach, and author of the book Dear White Women, Please Come Home. In this episode we talk with Kimberlee about engaging across difference. 

Dena Samuels is an author, professor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and consultant on mindful inclusive leadership development. In this episode we talk with Dena about the role of mindfulness in addressing conflict and advancing social justice. 

René Marie is a Grammy nominated jazz vocalist and songwriter.  In this episode we talk with René about music and art as a form of communication and explore the idea of the artist's response to conflict.