Your DEI Minute™

Michelle discusses the latest findings from the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, highlighting the concerning rise of polarization and declining trust within the workforce. She explains how these trends, driven by broader societal and political turbulence, are manifesting in the workplace as a retreat into insularity and rising intolerance for differing worldviews. Alarming statistics, such as a signi...

In this episode, Jamey is joined by Karen Catlin, author of the Better Allies book series, for an in-depth discussion on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. After spending decades studying AI, Karen talks about how AI is shaping workplace practices, highlighting both its potential and the challenges it presents, particularly...

Jamey explores the origins, evolution, and current usage of the word woke in American culture. He starts with a reflection on a 2021 rally where former President Donald Trump weaponized woke as an insult, signifying a shift in how the term is used in the political mainstream. Jamey traces the word’s roots back to African American vernacular English of the 1930s, where woke originally signified bei...

Michelle welcomes Jennifer Brown, a prominent figure in the DEI and leadership space, to explore the evolving landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. They talk about the concept of inclusive leadership, highlighting actionable ways leaders can foster environments where everyone feels safe, valued, and able to contribute fully. Jennifer shares insights from her extensive car...

Jamey welcomes Dr. Tom Bourdon to discuss his debut book, It Lit a Fire, and the practical ways leaders at every level can drive positive change using his Firestarter model. Tom introduces this model, which comprises pull, passion, and courage, as a tool to help individuals stay focused on their course values and take courageous, intentional actions without burning out, particularly in today’s cha...

Michelle discusses how leaders can create psychological safety in the workplace amid escalating ICE raids across the U.S. She talks about how beyond legal compliance and physical safety, employers must address widespread fear affecting immigrant employees and broader communities, especially in vulnerable work sites like retail, restaurants, healthcare, manufacturing, and distribution. She defines...

Jamey tackles one of the hardest conversations we seem to be able to have whether it's with family or coworkers, and that's the complexities of politics in the workplace. The episode examines how polarized political climates create divergent realities for people, using the example of differing reactions to widely seen videos of ICE killings. Jamey talks about the dual role organizations play: they...

In this episode, we have a special interview when Michelle welcomes Shubhi Rao, founder and CEO of U plevyl to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence and gender equity. The conversation dives deep into how AI can reshape workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially through the innovative lens of Uplevyl’s work creating the world’s largest gender dataset. Shubhi explains how...

In this episode, Jamey discusses the concept of leadership through the lens of curiosity, especially as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Jamey reflects on leadership lessons flooding platforms like LinkedIn, noting that while countless methods and archetypes are suggested, true effective leadership boils down to one universal trait: curiosity. By asking questions, l...

With the changes in DEI last year, Michelle discusses what the landscape of DEI looksl ike in 2026, and how the widespread confusion and fear surrounding legal changes has impacted business decisions. She talks about how most DEI initiatives remain lawful despite the uncertainty. Leaders are urged not to adopt a wait and see approach or pull back too aggressively, as such tactics risk alienating e...

In this episode, Michelle discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the hourly workforce. Addressing the common misconception that DEI is only for corporate settings, Michelle advocates for bringing these efforts into field-based environments like retail stores, distribution centers, and call centers. She talks about th...

In this episode of DEI Minute, Jamey dives deep into how organizations can effectively gather and operationalize feedback related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. He discusses the crucial role feedback plays in advancing DEI initiatives and shaping decision-making processes that are responsive and inclusive. Jamey offers tactical guidance on determining who to solicit feedback fr...

In this episode, Michelle walks listeners through the unique perspectives and workplace expectations of five different generations: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. The discussion centers on how generational influences shape attitudes toward loyalty, communication, motivation, and work-life balance. Michelle talks about the importance of understanding these generationa...

In this episode, Jamey discusses the importance of making workplace benefits truly inclusive. Addressing the evolving expectations of diverse workforces, Jamey emphasizes that benefits policies must go beyond basic health care and PTO to address the unique needs of all employees—such as those from LGBTQIA+ communities, parents, caregivers, and people with chronic health challenges. The episode pro...

In this episode, Michelle shares practical insights on how organizations can broaden the impact of their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles beyond internal practices and into their community outreach efforts. Michelle explains that while most DEI initiatives focus on improving retention, recruitment, and eliminating bias within company operations, it’s equally important to engage wi...

In this episode, Jamey Applegate tackles the challenges of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in modern work culture, focusing on practical DEI strategies for workforce development. The conversation centers on how to create workplace equity and workplace inclusion by empowering employees to move from being passive bystanders to active upstanders when addressing workplace challenges. Through fr...

In this episode, Michelle discusses the practical steps of building an effective communications plan for workplace DEI initiatives. She first talks about the importance of understanding your audience—not just as a broad organizational segment, but as distinct individuals with unique profiles, needs, and influences. To do this, Michelle recommends using empathy maps and provides actionable guidance...

In this episode, Jamey provides actionable insights for organizations striving to maintain effective Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) amidst evolving regulatory requirements. Building on a previous episode about executive orders and ERG compliance, Jamey recaps six crucial tips for sustaining DEI efforts and dives deeper into strategies for keeping ERGs open to all employees while ensuring complian...

Michelle dives into the topic of over-compliance in the realm of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), particularly in the wake of recent executive orders and evolving legal guidance in the United States. She explains that despite the prevailing confusion and caution caused by recent governmental actions, DEI initiatives remain essentially legal, with only a few specific practices (like quotas o...

In this episode, Jamey explores the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within organizations. Jamey opens with a balanced perspective, noting that while AI can be a powerful tool for supplementing an organization’s DEI capacity—especially with tasks like data synthesis, trend analysis, and policy review—it also comes with significant...

In this episode of DEI Minute, Jamey addresses how organizations can continue supporting internal programs dedicated to specific groups while ensuring compliance with current and potential future legal restrictions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Jamey discusses the impact of recent executive orders and legal actions on DEI initiatives, particularly focusing on programs like Emp...

In this episode, Jamey tackles the confusion and challenges surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts—particularly in the context of recent executive orders and shifting federal climates. Jamey discusses the impact of these orders on federal agencies and government contractors, noting the chilling effect they've had on DEI programs nationwide. He highlights the widespread uncertai...

In this episode of the DEI Minute, Jamey addresses the impact of recent executive orders from the Trump administration on employee resource groups (ERGs) in the workplace. The discussion opens with an important legal update—a federal judge's preliminary injunction that temporarily blocks certain aspects of these orders, particularly as they pertain to investigations of organizations running DEI pr...

In this episode, Michelle discusses what it means to create an inclusive and accessible workplace for everyone—particularly focusing on supporting employees with disabilities. Michelle highlights how organizations often approach disability accommodation from a compliance standpoint, waiting for requests rather than proactively designing accessible environments. She emphasizes the positive impact o...

In this episode, Jamey tackles the crucial question of where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) should sit within an organization’s structure. Drawing on common pitfalls and practical recommendations, Jamey explains why embedding DEI as a secondary or split responsibility—often within HR—is a mistake that can undermine the initiative’s effectiveness. The episode highlights the difference betwe...