Allyship That Costs You Something: 3 Ways to Stop Performing and Start Showing Up

What does real allyship actually look like when there's no audience, no applause, and nothing to gain? In this episode, Shola Richards explores the difference between performative allyship and the kind of everyday actions that create lasting change. Inspired by lessons learned in the years following the murder of George Floyd, Shola shares why meaningful allyship isn't measured by social media posts or public statements, but by the quiet choices we make when nobody is watching. Through the episode, Shola shares research about the bystander effect and illustrates what courageous leadership looks like with real-life examples. He also introduces three practical strategies for becoming a more effective ally across race, gender, disability, sexuality, religion, and other differences that shape our experiences. The episode will help every ally understand how to use social and professional capital to support others and why the focus should be on building sustainable, lifelong allyship habits. The Kindness Strategies:The Private Allyship TestThe Real Cost PracticeThe LongHaul Commitment If you want to be a better ally, this one is for you! Timestamps:00:00 - Mainstream Performative Allyship04:26 - What Do You Do When No One Is Watching?09:39 - Using Your Professional & Social Capital14:50 - Allyship as a Lifetime Commitment18:45 - Conclusion: Be a Better Ally For speaking requests or collaborations:https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep69🔗 Connect with Shola:Instagram – @sholarichardsWebsite – sholarichards.comRead more on Substack.This podcast is produced by https://www.micmoguls.com