Breaking Bias

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 defensiveness. Lorne shares practical approaches to interrupting reactive patterns, such as breathing techniques to move from threat response to clearer thinking, and simple team practices to improve high-stakes decisions.

Alongside workplace examples from training and leadership contexts, both share personal stories about failure, fear, and confidence, including lessons about learning, resilience, and redefining what “success” means. The episode closes with a focus on authenticity, continuous learning, and the everyday choices that help reduce bias and strengthen connection.