Topic
Workplace Culture & Systems
Culture is not the posters on the wall — it is the systems, habits and decisions that shape how work actually feels. These episodes dig into recruitment, policy, data and everyday behaviour to ask how organisations become genuinely inclusive. Essential listening for anyone changing a workplace from the inside.
76 episodes on this topic
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How Acts of Inclusion Tear Down Barriers and Build Belonging
with Celeste Warren
In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood speaks with Celeste Warren about equity by design and what it takes to build truly inclusive workplaces. Celeste shares formative family stories, including her father’s…
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From Comfort to Wellbeing in Modern Workplaces
with Andrea D. Carter
In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood speaks with Andrea D. Carter about belonging as infrastructure and why it must be treated as more than a feel-good concept. The conversation draws a clear distinction between…
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Creating Inclusive Spaces in Learning and Development
with Nikie Forster
In this episode, Joanne Lockwood speaks with learning and development specialist Nikie Forster about how playful methods can make training more inclusive and effective. The conversation centres on LEGO Serious Play, custom activities, and…
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How Curiosity and Cultural Difference Ignite Creativity and Problem-Solving
with Fredrik Härén
In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood speaks with Fredrik Härén about how difference fuels creativity, innovation and better problem-solving. The conversation ranges from cross-cultural travel and multicultural…
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From Swan Lake to Leopard Tails
with Nena Gilreath
In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood speaks with Nena Gilreath, co-founder of Ballethnic, about redefining ballet through African dance concepts, cultural truth, and community inclusion. The conversation explores…
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Lessons in Innovative Home Care Leadership and Inclusion
with Amrit Dhaliwal
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Amrit Dhaliwal, CEO of Wolfinch, about what it takes to scale high-quality home care without losing the human connection that makes care work effective. Amrit shares how he entered the sector, what he learned…
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Bridging Cultures and Building Connection
with Amanda Van Der Heiden
Joanne Lockwood is joined by learning and development leader Amanda Van Der Heiden to unpack what it really means to “organise chaos” and spark belonging at work. They explore why belonging is more than a DEI policy line—it’s a felt…
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Why Human Rights Should Never Be About Winning or Losing
with Jenny Chen
Joanne Lockwood is joined by DEI consultant and former finance leader Jenny Chen for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to choose authenticity over assimilation They explore how political rhetoric and workplace norms…
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Why Night Owls and Early Birds Matter for Inclusion
with Stephen Jasper
Joanne Lockwood is joined by jet lag consultant and chrono-diversity advocate Stephen Jasper for a wide-ranging conversation about how our biological rhythms shape work, wellbeing, and inclusion. Stephen shares how extensive international…
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Gender Equality, Stereotypes, and Creating Inclusive Cultures
with Christine Boston
In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood is joined by Christine Boston as they examine what it truly means to break barriers for women in modern society and the workplace. The discussion maps the enduring structural…
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The Power of Structure, Mentoring, and Routine in Modern Work
with Ed Johnson
Joanne Lockwood is joined by tech entrepreneur Ed Johnson to explore how routine and structure can empower people at work and beyond. Drawing on his experience building a mentoring platform and launching a new social network focused on…
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Age, Bias, and Belonging: Challenging Stereotypes in Today’s Recruitment Industry
with Jo Major
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Jo Major to explore how inclusion in the workplace is shaped long before someone starts a job—at the point of recruitment. They examine why DEI can become performative in hiring, and what it takes for…
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Transforming the Narrative Making Space for Disabled and Minority Authors in Literature
with Tracy Stewart
Joanne Lockwood is joined by book coach and editor Tracy Stewart, founder of Freshly Press, to explore why so many voices and storylines still struggle to be heard in publishing. Together they unpack how the industry’s commercial caution,…
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Rejection to Empowerment: Building Trust and Inclusion in Modern Recruitment
with C. Guz
Joanne Lockwood is joined by entrepreneur and job seeker C. Guz to unpack what happens when recruitment becomes a system designed to reject rather than to select. Drawing on C’s experience of receiving over 13,000 rejections and navigating…
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Sustaining Inclusion in Uncertain Times
with Wema Hoover
Joanne Lockwood is joined by global DEI expert and former Chief Diversity Officer Wema Hoover to explore what sits behind today’s DEI backlash and what organisations can do to sustain inclusion in uncertain times. They discuss how…
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Behavioural Science and the Eight Inclusion Needs
with Dr Liz Wilson
Joanne Lockwood is joined by behavioural scientist and strategic inclusion expert Dr Liz Wilson to explore what actually makes workplace equity stick. Rather than treating inclusion as something achieved by changing minds through training…
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How PR Shapes Authentic Change in a Noisy World
with Sara McCracken
Joanne Lockwood is joined by PR and communications specialist Sarah McCracken to explore how public relations can be used as a genuine tool for meaningful change, rather than “spin.” They unpack how organisations and individuals can align…
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Heartfelt Healthcare for Trans Individuals
with Susie Green
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Susie Green, co-founder and co-director of Anne Health, about what it takes to provide compassionate, medically responsible healthcare for trans people at a time when access is increasingly politicised. Susie…
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Unpacking Neurodiversity, Autism, and ADHD in Modern Workplaces
with Charlie Hart
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Charlie Hart (Awesome Charlie) for a wide-ranging conversation on neurodiversity at work, grounded in Charlie’s experiences of late diagnosis and a career in HR. Charlie shares what it was like to run into…
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From Buzzwords to Belonging: Simplifying DEI
with Julie Kratz
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Julie Kratz to explore what “allyship in action” looks like when DEI faces backlash and misunderstanding. Julie shares how her own corporate experience led her to focus on belonging, psychological safety, and…
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Creating Safe Spaces: Psychological Safety and the Need for Belonging
with Lorne Epstein
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…
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Creating Inclusive Work Environments for People with Intellectual Disabilities
with Dominique Dehaene
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Dominique Dehaene, National Director of Special Olympics Belgium, about how sport can be a practical gateway to fuller inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Dominique…
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The Role of Governance in Effective ERG Leadership
with Alyssa Dver
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Alyssa Dver, founder of the ERG Leadership Alliance and the American Confidence Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation about what belonging really looks like and how organisations can sustain it. They…
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Media Sensationalism and Constructive Conversations
with John Sands
Joanne Lockwood is joined by John Sands, an ERG trainer, to unpack how organisations can turn difficult, polarising moments into constructive conversations and tangible workplace improvements. They explore what Employee Resource Groups are…
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Beyond Comfort Zones: Empowerment Through Self-Discovery and Growth
with Claire Payne
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Clare Payne, a law firm partner, tribunal judge and mediator, to explore what it really means to embrace your full potential—personally and in the workplace. Clare reflects on her fast rise in the corporate…
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Navigating Conflict with Compassion: Transforming Adversity into Understanding
with Maria Arpa MBE
Joanne Lockwood is joined by workplace culture innovator and conflict resolution expert Maria Arpa for a wide-ranging conversation about how conflict can become a route to compassion rather than retribution. Maria challenges adversarial…
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From Tech Careers to Diversity Champions
with Toby Mildon
Joanne Lockwood is joined by workplace inclusion specialist Toby Mildon to explore his path from technology transformation into equality, diversity and inclusion work, and what it takes to make EDI feel practical rather than intimidating.…
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Gender Equity and Inclusive Workplaces: Moving from Performative Acts to Authentic Support
with Valentina Jaramillo
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Valentina Jaramillo to discuss what the future of gender equity should look like when it moves beyond a strict women-versus-men framing. Valentina explains key distinctions between sex assigned at birth, gender…
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Moving Beyond Meritocracy and Systemic Inequities
with Sharitta Marshall
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Sharitta Marshall, founder of Visionary Development Consulting, for a wide-ranging conversation about what “equity in action” really looks like inside organisations. Sharitta challenges the myth of meritocracy…
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The Life-Saving Power of Inclusive Healthcare Practices
with Ellen Edenbrow
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Ellen Edenbrow to examine what inclusive healthcare looks like in practice, and why inclusion and diversity work in health and social care is far more than performative activity. They discuss how small but…
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Art, Activism and the Queer Experience
with Oscar Hoyle
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Oscar Hoyle, CEO of Blossom LGBT, to explore what it takes for Gen Z LGBTQIA+ people to thrive in a social and workplace climate that can feel hostile. They discuss why many young people hide their identity at…
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Charting the Waters of Charity and Clarity
with Hannah Bellamy
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Hannah Bellamy, Managing Director of Charity: Water UK, about what “clean water” really means and why lack of access remains a daily reality for hundreds of millions of people. They explore how unsafe or…
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Beyond Binaries: Unpacking Gender Diversity
with Cynthia Fortlage
Joanne Lockwood is joined by gender diversity speaker and consultant Cynthia Fortlage for a wide-ranging conversation about how binary thinking has shaped society and workplaces, and what it takes to build cultures where people can belong.…
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Ordinary Bloke on an Extraordinary Quest for Inclusion
with Stephen Whitton
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Stephen Whitton to explore why inclusion work in male-dominated industries can be so hard to shift, and what it takes to change a deep-rooted culture from the inside. Stephen reflects on his decades in the…
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Bridging the Gap: Navigating Healthcare for Gender-Diverse Communities
with Dr Helen Webberley
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Dr Helen Webberley, founder of GenderGP, to examine why healthcare can still feel out of reach for transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people. They discuss the barriers that show up at the first point…
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Humanising Workplaces: Transforming Business Communication
with Ben Afia
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Ben Afia, a language and communication specialist whose work focuses on making organisations feel more human. They explore how large organisations can become dehumanising through bureaucracy and process, and…
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Beyond Labels: Dismantling Judgements
with Vanessa Raath
Joanne Lockwood is joined by talent sourcing trainer Vanessa Raath to unpack how quickly we label other people, and the consequences those snap judgements can have in workplaces and beyond. Starting with recruitment and “culture fit,”…
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Striving for Fairness: Navigating Inequities in Business
with Pamela Permalloo Bass
Joanne Lockwood speaks with EDI coach and consultant Pamela Permalloo Bass about what it really means to strive for fairness in workplaces and wider society. Drawing on Pamela’s experience in NHS roles and consulting, they explore how…
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Building Inclusive Excellence in Engineering
with Claire Angliss
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Claire Angliss, Head of Learning for Thales UK and an inclusive coach, to explore what “inclusive excellence” looks like inside an engineering organisation. They unpack the real-world tension behind “bring…
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Neurodiversity Matters: Inclusive Workplace Practices for ADHD, Autism, and More
with Sam Warner
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Sam Warner, a neurodivergent communication specialist, to explore what it means to go beyond “the corporate robot” and build workplaces that work for more brains. Sam shares her experience of leaving the…
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Inclusive Conversations Across Borders: Navigating Global Challenges
with Kaumudi Goda
Joanne Lockwood is joined by leadership consultant and DEIB strategist Kaumudi Goda (KG) to explore what it takes to have inclusive conversations across cultures, geographies, and lived experiences. KG reflects on feeling like she didn’t…
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Inclusive Talent Attraction: Redefining Recruitment Marketing Strategies
with Sara Dalsfelt
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Sara Dalsfelt, Chief Marketing Officer at Adway, to unpack why traditional CV-led recruitment can be a poor proxy for readiness, transferable skills, and future potential. Sara argues that over-reliance on…
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A Call to Action: Nurturing Voices for a Sustainable Planet
with Nicola Peel
Joanne Lockwood is joined by environmentalist and solutionist Nicola Peel to explore why environmental action so often gets stuck, and what it takes to shift from awareness to practical change. They begin by unpacking how…
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The Power of Words: Creating Inclusive Communication Spaces for All
with Suzanne Wertheim
Joanne Lockwood is joined by linguistic anthropologist Suzanne Wertheim to explore what inclusive communication looks like in practice, and why it’s more helpful to focus on behaviours and outcomes than memorising lists of “good” and “bad”…
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Fighting Against Workplace Bullying: One Woman's Journey
with Nicki Eyre
Joanne Lockwood is joined by workplace bullying expert Nicki Eyre to unpack what workplace bullying is, how it shows up day-to-day, and why it can be so difficult to evidence and challenge through formal routes. They explore the spectrum…
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Advancing Diversity in the Workplace: Challenging Meritocracy
with Belinda Riley
Joanne Lockwood is joined by diversity and inclusion consultant and clinical hypnotherapist Belinda Riley for a wide-ranging conversation about what it takes to go “beyond the barriers” that limit people at work. They explore impostor…
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The Power of Media: Humanising Arabs and Muslims through Diverse Narratives
with Dr Evelyn Alsultany
Joanne Lockwood is joined by professor and author Evelyn Alsultany to examine why “humanising” Arabs and Muslims is still necessary, and how dehumanising portrayals in media have shaped public attitudes and political decisions for decades.…
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Pushback on Equality: Understanding Privilege and Oppression
with Erica Simon
Joanne Lockwood is joined by clinical psychologist and social justice consultant Erica Simon to explore why “ally” is not an identity you can claim, but a set of actions you consistently take. Together they unpack what it means to be an…
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Creating a Vision for Success: The Key to Thriving in Business and Personal Life
with Kate Trafford
Joanne Lockwood is joined by master coach and author Kate Trafford to explore why diversity, equity and inclusion should be seen as a “mother of all win-wins” rather than an added business cost. They discuss what it takes to build…
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Only Ourselves Can Free Our Minds
with Moreen Pascal
Moreen Pascal joins Joanne Lockwood to explore what it means to “free our minds” from the norms, assumptions and internalised beliefs that keep oppressive cultural and institutional practices in place. Drawing on her Caribbean heritage and…
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It's Painful Not To Belong
with Lysette Offley
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Lysette Offley, founder of Genius Material and the Genius Principles, about why not belonging can be profoundly painful and how it affects learning, confidence, and performance. Lysette shares personal…
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Outright Optimism
with Lisa Braithwaite
Joanne Lockwood is joined by public speaking coach Lisa Braithwaite to unpack what she calls “outright optimism” and how it fuels a pushback against narrow, outdated ideas of what “professional” is supposed to look like. They explore…
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Creating balance and representation in technology
with Nicole Hardiman
Nicole Hardiman, a software and data engineer, reflects on two decades in tech and the persistent lack of gender balance she’s experienced—often being the only woman in the team, and at times the only woman in the building. She and Joanne…
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Busting the myths of inter-generational stereotypes
with Henry Rose Lee
Joanne Lockwood is joined by intergenerational consultant Henry Rose Lee to unpack the myths and stereotypes different age groups hold about one another at work. They discuss how labels like “Baby Boomer”, “Gen X”, “Millennial” and “Gen Z”…
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Everyone should feel as though they belong, are welcome and valued
with Esi Hardy
Joanne Lockwood speaks with trainer, consultant, and disability inclusion advocate Esi Hardy about what it really means for people to feel welcome, valued, and able to belong. Esi explains that inclusion is a felt experience, shaped by…
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Learning to talk, to listen and to learn
with Iain Chapman
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Iain Chapman to explore what it means to learn to talk, to listen, and to learn, especially from the perspective of someone who describes himself as a white, heterosexual man in his fifties who wants everyone…
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Escaping the echo chamber of D&I lingo
with Greg McCaw
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Greg McCaw about how DEI work can get stuck in an echo chamber of familiar phrases that sound positive but aren’t always explained in a way that helps non-specialists take action. They explore common terms such…
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Freedom for Everybody
with Lulu Minns
Joanne Lockwood is joined by coach and retreat specialist Lulu Minns to explore what “freedom for everybody” really means, and why it matters for inclusion. Lulu reflects on her former career as a criminal defence lawyer and the…
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Creating a level playing field so every human can be inspired
with Mindy Gibbins-Klein
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Mindy Gibbins-Klein about what it really takes to create a more level playing field so more people can be inspired and, crucially, feel able to speak up. They explore how opportunity and access are often left…
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Rediscovering lost knowledge
with Peter Edge
Peter Edge joins Joanne Lockwood to explore what happens when organisations fail to notice, capture, and transfer the expertise that keeps work moving. Using stories from policing, education, the NHS and specialist manufacturing, Peter…
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Secrets from the habitologist
with Tony Winyard
Joanne Lockwood talks with Tony Winyard about why lasting change tends to come from starting small. Tony explains how his work in health and his training in the “Tiny Habits” approach helped him move beyond simply sharing information, to…
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Homes for Heroes
with Mushtaq Khan
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Mushtaq Khan to explore what “homes for heroes” should mean in the UK today, in the context of long-running housing shortages and affordability pressures. They discuss how policy choices over decades—such as…
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Empowering everyone to be able to share their gifts with the world
with Penny Pullen
Penny Pullan joins Joanne Lockwood to explore what it takes to design and lead workshops and meetings where everyone can contribute their best work. Drawing on her early shift to virtual working after 9/11, Penny explains why effective…
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None of us are included fully in the world until all of us are!
with Stacy Hart
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Stacey Hart to explore what it really means to say that none of us are included fully in the world until all of us are. Together they unpack how discrimination and exclusion harm everyone, and why a “bit of the…
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Will Diversity and Inclusion "Just Happen"?
with William Buist
Joanne Lockwood is joined by business strategist William Buist to explore whether diversity and inclusion will naturally improve over time, or whether it requires deliberate action. They discuss how legislation can create the illusion that…
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Everybody can fit into the Soup model
with Derek Cheshire
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Derek Cheshire to explore how inclusion works in practice when people and perspectives mix. Starting from Derek’s work in creativity and innovation, they talk about why diversity needs curiosity, listening…
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Anti-racism work is not rocket science
with Merel van Haastert
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Merel van Haastert to explore why anti-racism work can feel daunting for white people, and why the work starts with seeing racism as a system rather than an individual moral failing. Together they unpack how…
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Creating a level playing field in attitude and action
with Sarah Burrell
Joanne Lockwood is joined by trainer and inclusion consultant Sarah Burrell to explore what it really takes to create a level playing field in both attitude and action. They discuss why inequality is systemic and historical, and how the…
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Being inclusive means leaving no one behind
with Dr Jacqui Taylor
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Dr Jacqui Taylor, a web scientist and IoT innovator, to explore what “leave no one behind” means in practice as technology reshapes society. Jacqui traces her path from aerospace engineering into deep tech and…
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Why isn’t our public transport network accessible for all?
with Andy Barrow
Joanne Lockwood is joined by accessibility consultant Andy Barrow to explore why public transport still isn’t accessible for everyone, and what meaningful accessibility looks like in real-world travel. They discuss where physical…
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How to Simplify Inclusion by Focusing on Behaviours
with Jackie Handy
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Jackie Handy to explore how organisations can make inclusion feel more practical and achievable by focusing on everyday behaviours and language, rather than relying on unconscious bias training as a standalone…
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Understanding the conflict between Culture vs Humanity
with Hend Halim
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Hend Halim, an HR professional who grew up in Egypt and has lived in Holland and the UK, to explore the tension between cultural norms and shared humanity. Hend reflects on how early cultural messaging shaped…
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Why we need a more open dialogue on race
with Gamal Turawa
Recorded during the early months of COVID-19 and amid the global resurgence of Black Lives Matter following the murder of George Floyd, Joanne Lockwood speaks with Gamal Turawa about why we need more open, honest dialogue about race.…
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How good humour can be used to nurture inclusive cultures
with Jeremy Nicholas
Joanne Lockwood speaks with keynote speaker and former BBC broadcaster Jeremy Nicholas about how humour can help people connect and feel included at work. They explore why shared laughter builds rapport, how humour can quickly reduce…
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Diversity fatigue through the lens of a middle aged white guy
with Scott McArthur
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Scott McArthur to explore “diversity fatigue” and what happens when inclusion conversations become polarised, overly labelled, or reduced to training and statistics that don’t shift culture. Scott shares…
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It's the Brain Stupid
with Dr Lynda Shaw
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Dr Lynda Shaw, a cognitive neuroscientist specialising in unconscious emotional processing and behavioural change, to explore how the brain forms shortcuts and why those shortcuts can become bias. They discuss…