PODCAST · society
ABCDEI
by Susan Diaz and Rohini Mukherji
Welcome to ABCDEI, a podcast that explores the topics of diversity, equity and inclusion through stories of distinct and powerful lived experiences. If you are tired of the preaching, shaming and theory about why inclusion matters and just want to create change already, then you’re in the right place. Join us as we unlearn bias, one alphabet at a time.
Episodes
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EP41 DEIB doesn't stop at talent attraction with Dr Jim Kanichirayil
Welcome to another episode of ABCDEI, a podcast that explores topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion through stories of distinct and powerful lived experiences. Today, host Susan Diaz sits down with Dr. Jim Kanichirayil, self-described 'professional megaphone', who highlights innovation in...
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EP40 Inclusive practices for every body type with Pamela Shainhouse
Welcome back to a fresh season of the ABCDEI podcast. In this season co-hosts Susan Diaz and Rohini Mukerji present a 6-episode arc with in-depth episodes on different aspects of 2 core topics: intersectionality, and the return to workplace culture. In the first episode of the arc, Susan Diaz…
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EP39 Apologies, apathy and how to stay committed to the equity journey
We're back with a two-parter in which Susan Diaz and Rohini Mukherji, our hosts, touch on the state of the world as it relates to equity halfway through 2022. A State of the Union on where people are in the DEI journey as it stands at this moment in history. And while some things have changed…
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EP38 Honouring your own intellectual property
Today on ABCDEI we talk about intellectual property and how to honour it, as we build in public about some of our plans for the future for the body of work we've build through this podcast. But first a story you'll find a story that was first told to us by Andrea Henry of henrybrookslaw.com Here...
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EP37 How to walk away like a Superhero
Today on ABCDEI we talk about victim-blaming, victim-shaming and so much more as it relates to the workplace. Turn your attention to Simu Liu (the actor who plays "Shang Chi" in the Marvel Studios superhero movie) and how he walked away from Deloitte after a bad experience to become an actor and...
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EP36 - What does the inclusive 'return to office' look like?
ABCDEI is back after a short spring break! This season, we want to really feed into some of what we've built through great discussions and feedback. And focus on "conversation in progress". And this year, no conversations have been more active than the ones around the return to the office! People...
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EP35 How marginalized communities can take up more space
Today Susan and Rohini are getting personal. What can we do to TAKE UP MORE SPACE? 💫💫💫 Here we are with the second of a two part-episode (Refer episode 33 if you missed part 1), in which we're talking about how to build the inclusion muscle and what are the things that go into the making of an...
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EP34 The profound calling of bridge-building in DEI with Martine Kalaw
"I make a distinction between active allies, and passive allies. We've got a whole lot of great passive allies in organizations that are wanting to do something and thinking 'But I don't know what to do!' Active allyship can be facilitated through manager and management development. Managers all...
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EP33 Inclusion routines for the privileged
We're talking about building muscle today! Building routine is such a big part of the start of the year for many. And we wanted to bring that lens to inclusion work. Beyond our day jobs, our podcasting, and families, we - Susan and Rohini - are also both skincare nerds! As we were talking about...
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EP32 Change hearts before minds with Victor Rampaderat
"Here's something else that I realized which is very rarely brought into this conversation is we talk about white privilege and other privileges. Let's talk about economic privilege. It's really easy to become out of touch when you've started to gain economic privilege. And I know for myself…
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EP31 "I want to own your pain" - with Shari Foos
"It's a profound thing to offer an apology. An apology is not dependent on forgiveness and has no excuses. An apology is me humbly coming to you and saying, "Oh, I see that I've hurt you; that I was inappropriate in some way." And by the way, I may not have intended to hurt you. I may not even...
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EP30 Equitably ever after
In this episode, Susan and Rohini focus on taking the theory of many of the inclusion lessons discussed with experts in the space over 3 seasons into practical reframes of incidents that routinely occur in the workplace. Both co-hosts share an incident from their professional lives and get...
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EP29 I is for Immigrant
The inclusion conversation is not a new conversation. It's a conversation that can get frustrating. Through 2021 there's been a sense of urgency from communities outside racialized communities, for example. And that can bring with it tiredness for those who've been battling inequalities. We must...
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EP28 P is for performative
What is 'performative'? Is all marketing/communications automatically performative if you're setting out to announce what you're doing to people? No, it doesn't have to be. Not when it's backed up by the right action. In this curated episode of conversations with 3 BIPOC leaders, we break down…
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EP27 C is for code-switching
In this curated episode we bring together 2 discussions. The first with Romesh Hettiarachchi, a commercial lawyer, and the second between Susan and Rohini on the microaggressions that compound and lead to many marginalized individuals' submissive reactions in the face of bias. Romesh tells the...
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EP 26 Grace, empathy, and asking for change with Darian Kovacs
How do we open up doors and break down barriers for Indigenous peoples to get work? To get mentorship? And to be leaders in that sector? Darian Kovacs asks "what if we equipped Indigenous folx with the best education, the best resources, the best credentials, and let them loose into the world of...
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EP25 How to be a true ally
Most people want to identify as an 'ally'. Nobody wants to be the bad guy. Being an ally to someone who has been systematically marginalized and diminished isn't easy. In this short primer episode we cover: The NOs Allyship is not a self-bestowed title. Don't call yourself an ally! Allyship is…
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EP24 A is for Ageism
In Episode 24, we mull: is age just a number? There are so many preconceived notions around the connection between capability and age. Unlike race, gender, or other forms of identity, age is a universal truth. We're all going to be in our teens, our 20s and our 70s. So, age is a good place to…
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EP23 M is for Monolith - the need to better representation in the media
Let's focus on going beneath the surface on the inclusion front, shall we? No matter what the marginalization or points of difference might be, how do you take a step back? Being especially careful in the media to NOT treat any group as a monolith, or stereotype. How can we push ourselves to…
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EP22 Digging Deeper: Correcting Radical Wrongs in Canada
In episode 22, we continued digging deeper into some topics from season 1 and 2. There's something decidedly different about next week's federal election: it's the first time we're going in with our eyes wide open. To the existence of racism and discriminatory systems, to the ugly history of this...
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#21 - Digging Deeper: A is for Anti-Black Racism
We're kicking off season 3 with a deeper look at some of the topics we explored in Seasons 1 and 2. Thanks to the incredible expertise of the guests we've spoken to, we have a rich collection of actionable learnings that you can take away – and do – right now. In Episode 21, we dig into Leo...
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#20 - Allyship Manual: Embrace courageous action
In the final episode of our mini-series on allyship, this week we cover three tangible things you can do to be a true, non-performative ally. In this 3-episode allyship manual arc, we've covered what allyship is not and two key practices for shifting to inclusion by default. In the season 2…
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#19 - Allyship manual: The two mindset shifts critical to genuine allyship
In the second of a 3-episode arc on allyship, this week we cover the two key practices for shifting to inclusion by default. In the final episode of this arc, we will break down a few tactical things everyone can do toward being a true ally, but this week it's all about the mindset shift that has...
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#18 - Allyship Manual: What allyship is NOT
In the first of a 3 episode arc on allyship, this week we cover the five things that allyship is NOT: Allyship is not a self bestowed title. Don't call yourself an ally! Allyship is not a box to check on our way to collecting a certain number of 'woke' points. Allyship is not something that you...
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#17 - Identity, inviting feedback and influencing through persuasion with Romesh Hettiarachchi
Romesh Hettiarachchi, commercial lawyer at B&I Legal Counsel, has a wonderful way of breaking down identity into a conversation between the individual and community. And so, the formation of an authentic identity does require being open to and even inviting input from a diverse set of external...
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#16 - Ageism, assumptions and asking with kindness with Jacqui D'Eon
Jacqui D'Eon, founder and owner of Jade Communications, and the author of stuff happens, joins us for an honest conversation around ageism in the workplace. As an educator and a professional with over three decades of experience, Jacqui sees both ends of the age spectrum everyday. Jacqui's…
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#15 - Colonialism, co-creation and courageous action with Ben Borne
In light of the horrific recent discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children in unmarked graves in Kamloops, we wanted to focus our learning on the Indigenous experience. We were joined by Ben Borne, a descendant of yellow quill First Nation and co-founder of Symmetry PR. Ben shared how he...
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#14 - Radical ignorance - not radical Islam – is a serious problem
Rant alert. The past few weeks have brought so much pain to different marginalized groups in Canada. In today's episode, Rohini and Susan share their anguish at the hate-fueled killing of a multigenerational Pakistani family out for a walk in London, ON. They reflect on their time spent living in...
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#13 - Playgrounds to power structures: Lessons in DEI from Gen Z
Episode 13 was incredibly special, because it featured one of our own. Susan's not-so-little-anymore kid, Yara, joined us for an enlightening discussion on leading with empathy, the importance of education and meeting in the middle. What really stayed with us was this: lessons from the playground...
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#12 - The new language of racism with Sherhara Downing
In episode 12, we were lucky enough to chat with Sherhara Downing, the livewire founder of Level Comm. She helps business leaders speak confidently and concisely to build their personal brand. Sherhara shared several personal experiences that have informed her commitment to anti-racism training....
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#11 - Policies and not prayers with the Milkshake Sisters
And just like that, we're kicking off Season 2 of ABCDEI! In episode 1, Susan and Rohini are joined in studio by another dynamic duo – the Milkshake Sisters. Marianna and Angel are activists and educators with a focus on trans rights, with an intersectional lens given their immigrant roots. This...
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#10 - Season 1 wrap: Unlearning out loud
As we come to the end of Season 1 of ABCDEI, co-hosts Susan and Rohini reflect on the lessons they have taken away from the last 10 weeks. The origin story of ABCDEI lies in the deep discomfort of staying silent in the face of inequity and the desire to unlearn out loud through conversations with...
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#9 - Build inclusion into your foundation, not the façade with Mohit Rajhans
This week, we chatted with Mohit Rajhans, one of the first South Asians working in mainstream media in Toronto. His curiosity about the lack of diversity in media when he was coming up in his career led him down a path that included Bollywood coverage, red carpet reporting and ultimately, morning...
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#8 - Modelling true allyship with Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam
This week, we unlearned all the advice about steering clear of politics and religion. Our guest, Toronto City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, is modelling true allyship in the way she advocates for her constituents' diverse needs. In this humbling conversation, Councillor Wong-Tam talks about the…
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#7 - Fight with one hand, build with the other, a conversation with Leo Johnson
This week, we are joined by Leo Nupolu Johnson – internationally acclaimed human rights activist, social entrepreneur, and Executive Director of global charitable organization Empowerment Squared. In this awe-inspiring and humbling conversation, Leo covers serious ground on the incredible power…
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#6 - A tale of two Meghans with Stacy Lee Kong
Stacy Lee Kong – writer, editor and creator of one of our favourite newsletters, Friday Things - joins us for a serious conversation layered under a really fun conversation. As a racialized woman in journalism, Stacy shares how she has turned some of the fatigue around race-related conversations...
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#5 - Power structures, immigrant inclusion and the meritocracy myth
In episode 5 of ABCDEI, Gail Strachan – culture strategist, co-Founder and co-chair of the first-ever Antiracism in PR summit and all-around inspiring advocate - is in the studio! Gail's journey of wokeness began as curiosity about Black history in high school and became confusion, hurt and…
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#4 - Typecasting, tokenism, collective vision and cancel culture with Ali Kazmi
Celebrity alert! In episode 4 of ABCDEI, actor-director Ali Kazmi joins Susan and Rohini to chat about the challenge of tackling the intersectionality of homosexuality and South Asian culture in Funny Boy, Canada's Oscar entry this year. He also shares his candid views on typecasting in the...
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#3 - Recollections may vary
In the last episode of the launch-time binge, Susan and Rohini tackle another topic that has a lot of baggage, especially in the South Asian community. And that is mental health. Susan shares her journey to getting comfortable with the subject. The last year has taught us many things, but a…
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#2 - The good fight
In this episode, Susan and Rohini get real about an important and uncomfortable topic: conflict. Is conflict always bad? No. Is it inevitable in the process of creating systemic change? Yes. Getting comfortable with confrontation can come more naturally when you're taking on someone else's cause,...
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#1 - Same, same but different
ABCDEI co-hosts Susan Diaz and Rohini Mukherji have a lot in common – South Asian women who came to Toronto via Oman and work in marketing – OK, yes, that's a lot of common ground, we hear it. But they also have distinct aspects of their identities, especially when it comes to being Canadian...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to ABCDEI, a podcast that explores the topics of diversity, equity and inclusion through stories of distinct and powerful lived experiences. If you are tired of the preaching, shaming and theory about why inclusion matters and just want to create change already, then you’re in the right place. Join us as we unlearn bias, one alphabet at a time.
HOSTED BY
Susan Diaz and Rohini Mukherji
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does ABCDEI have?
ABCDEI currently has 41 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is ABCDEI about?
Welcome to ABCDEI, a podcast that explores the topics of diversity, equity and inclusion through stories of distinct and powerful lived experiences. If you are tired of the preaching, shaming and theory about why inclusion matters and just want to create change already, then you’re in the right...
How often does ABCDEI release new episodes?
ABCDEI has 41 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to ABCDEI?
You can listen to ABCDEI on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts ABCDEI?
ABCDEI is created and hosted by Susan Diaz and Rohini Mukherji.
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