We Are Meaningful

There's limited glory and glamour in DEI, DEIB, IDEA, etc. but plenty of performances and illusions. Most of us are committed to driving powerful, positive change - but as the work is increasingly under-resourced, undervalued, and hyper-politicized... the burnout is real and continuous. In this month's episode, Adriele Parker joins us to discuss navigating the challenges of being a DEI practitioner and finding balance so we can prioritize me, myself & I.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wearemeaningful/message

In Episode 2, Kamilah Martin jumps on the mic with us to explore our metamorphosis as individuals: moving from who we're “supposed” to be - into who we want to be. Shedding the “should be”s and societal expectations can be reallll hard, especially when they've defined your self worth for so long. But the power and choice to be different starts with us. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wearemeaningful/message

Crystle & Krysta are back and so much has changed in the last two years! During this episode, we reflect on how our growth has translated into this present-day version of ourselves -- diving into how much we've missed you and this space, and what we love about this season in our lives. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wearemeaningful/message

The first Note to Self of Season 2 centers how we use self-awareness to transition out of who we're expected to be and into each new season of our evolution and growth. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wearemeaningful/message

It's never the right time to say goodbye...so, let's not! Join our co-hosts as they recap Season 1 and prepare to transition into Season 2 with reflection, thoughtfulness, hopes, and dreams. We'll see you again in February!___Follow us on social:Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

Join us as Trinidad Hermida comes through with knowledge on how to stay ready...ready to face negativity, forgive yourself, and encounter pain. Having frameworks for responding to trials, like focusing on the bigger picture and leveraging hindsight can help us overcome the tough times.

What does your junk drawer look like (don't lie) and have you ever compared it to your mindset? Felicia Perez speaks truth around decluttering and shifting our mindsets to make room for the positive.

This year has been a hot mess, to say the least, so we're taking a beat to talk about the GOOD. Listen in as we reflect on the lessons of 2020 and plot our rise for 2021.

November’s narrative, Light of Mind, will end the first season of the We Are Meaningful podcast. We hope to reflect on 2020’s challenges through a positive lens and discuss best practices for staying strong during the hard times.

Tiffany Williams joins us this week to offer a straight and strong message: if they won't allow you a well-deserved seat at the table, build your own! Not everything warrants a response and Tiffany empowers us to know our limits and worth.___Follow us on social:Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

Almost like we've been programmed since birth, Black & Brown women know that something more is required of us for opportunity, success, and even growth. Joann Pollard gets real about navigating empty promises, advocating for herself, and the reality of being the only.___Join us at #BeCon2020 on October 24th and follow us on social:Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

Dawn Christian did not come to play with us, or the message, in this week's episode. When will we redirect the love and energy for our work back into ourselves? Let's start to ask WHY when people and situations try to keep us stunted, friends!___Join us at #BeCon2020 on October 24th and follow us on social:Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

This week our co-hosts chat with Shelby Birch about systems that aren't broken, but are working as they were designed to keep Black & Brown women stunted and chasing goal posts that keep moving.___Follow us on social:Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

Co-hosts, Crystle & Krysta, kick off the dialogue this month with a debrief of Stunted.___Follow us on social:Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

October’s narrative, Stunted, emphasizes the challenges Black & Brown women experience in "climbing the ladder" and the disparity in how they are, or aren't, nurtured for success and growth.

If you love us, fight for us! This week, we discuss how men of color can lend a hand in advocating for Black & Brown women. Zach Nunn lets us know what true allyship and the evolution of empathy look like.Don't tell anyone, but Zach's a new dad and Baby Nunn pops in to say hello.___Join us for Bring Your Own Snacks: The EXTRAness on LinkedIn Live on Saturday, September 26th and follow us on social:Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

Dumebi Egbuna is giving us life in this week's episode on the power dynamics of identity shaming. Majoritized folx stay disappointed when we don't meet the stereotype or fit into their box, and Dumebi empowers us to leverage those expectations for the win!___Join us for Bring Your Own Snacks: The EXTRAness on LinkedIn Live this month and follow us on social: Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

It's such a good time when we get on the mic with our friend, Eva Rodriguez. Join us as we laugh and reflect on her experiences that are The EXTRAness narrative.___Follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

August’s narrative, The EXTRAness, emphasizes the challenges surrounding how women of color often position our brand including muting our identities, neutralizing our responses, and ignoring systemic racism to survive in corporate spaces.

Our hosts are coming in EXTRA hot with September's narrative: The EXTRAness How many times have you had to "check" your tone, outfit, facial expression...? Just to make a mediocre someone feel comfortable. Often? Us too!___Follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

Let me tell you how...Michèle brought all the heat in this week's episode. Upon her emigration from France, she learned quickly that corporate spaces here in America tout that they "don't see color," but only when it's convenient for their agenda.___Follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

This week our co-hosts get real with the BOLD Black Girls, Aries & Kim. Isn't it funny how our differences are craved and praised during the interview process, but not long after - we're asked to mute our identity? Not us! Tune in as we break apart these layers of assimilation in Part I of our conversation.You can catch Part II at Bring Your Own Snacks: Assimilate Please on August 29th!___Follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

This week our guest, Jessica Pharm brings us gold as we spotlight the unnecessary policing that happens when our tone, clothing, and demeanor just don't conform to the status quo within corporate spaces.___Follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

Our co-hosts are back with a debrief of this month's narrative, Assimilate, Please. The expectation of Black and Brown talent to assimilate perpetuates the status quo and diminishes the value of our lived experiences.__Follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

Assimilate, Please emphasizes the inequitable and racist standards of professionalism and culture fit imposed on people of color, and the pressure to conform.

This week, our co-hosts connect with Aiko Bethea to discuss how Black & Brown women can best empower themselves to define and defend their boundaries at work as we shift our mindset and better understand our worth.__Follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

This week, our co-hosts connect with Andrea G. Tatum to explore what happens behind the curtain of Diversity & Inclusion roles. In discussing the challenges and triumphs of this work, we learn about the power of a yes, and to move beyond performative action to transformative change.__Join us at Bring Your Own Snacks: By Association and follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

This week, our co-hosts connect with Brittany J. Harris to discuss the role of distancing statements and white fragility in systemic racism, and how white supremacy rules corporate spaces.__Join us at Bring Your Own Snacks: By Association and follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

This week, Crystle & Krysta chat with Madison Butler about unapologetic and active advocacy for inclusion & diversity, rampant performative allyship, and her commitment to showing up authentically.__Join us at Bring Your Own Snacks: By Association and follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

Join co-hosts, Crystle & Krysta, as they debrief By Association and discuss it's roots as a culmination of Crystle's experiences at a past organization. The way talent is set up, it's important that organizations realize that we want to see outcomes, not just hear about your hopes and dreams. Tell us, what outcomes would you like to achieve and how will you achieve them?__Join us at Bring Your Own Snacks: Burden of Proof and follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

July’s narrative, By Association, emphasizes the dissonance between what organizations say publicly and their internal commitment to Black & Brown talent. Behind the curtain, they aren’t doing the work to recruit, grow, and retain underrepresented talent and there is a lack of accountability. Thankfully, the current movement has given us the leverage we need to push for sustainable, actionable change.__Join us at Bring Your Own Snacks: Burden of Proof and follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

We recently had our first-ever public Bring Your Own Snacks event and it was so powerful, that we'd like to share it here on the podcast!This week, you'll hear a profound panel discussion about how Black & Brown women bear the burden of proof and the perspectives of our three incredible panelists: Andrea G. Tatum, Kishshana Palmer & Yulkendy Valdez.

This week, Dominique Hollins challenges and inspires listeners to find their voice and leverage it to drive impact and change. Leveraging her unique algorithm, she is innovating and reforming workplace equity.__Join us at Bring Your Own Snacks: Burden of Proof and follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

At a time when many organizations are breaking the internet to stand in solidarity with the Black community, we're all hoping we see a sustainable change to systems, policies, culture, and people. This week, our co-hosts connect with Jared Karol, DEIB leader, to discuss elements of power, privilege, and his emotional journey to allyship. We even talk parenting and moving beyond immobilizing guilt to action.__Join us at Bring Your Own Snacks: Burden of Proof and follow us on social!Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

To Whom It May Concern, and it should concern us all...This month, we're peeling back the layers of what's happening in today's America and how it manifests in corporate spaces. Quite often, we like to create a delineation between the two worlds, but in this episode our cohosts explain why they're one in the same - and why it matters.TRIGGER WARNING: This months narrative contains excerpts from George Floyd's murder.__Follow us out on social media:Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

June's narrative, Burden of Proof, emphasizes the pandemic of racism and it's impacts, particularly on black and brown lives. Burden of Proof is chilling and powerful, as it draws the parallel between our experiences in and out of corporate spaces.Tune in this Thursday as co-hosts Crystle & Krysta debrief Burden of Proof and share what to expect this month.__Check us out on social media:Instagram: @wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

Power structures built on racism exist in and outside of corporate spaces. As black and brown women, we experience many instances of violence from the Amy Coopers and Karens of the world and no matter where we turn, it's exhausting. Although it begins as psychological exhaustion, it begins to manifest itself as physical exhaustion. Much like carrying a heavy, invisible backpack up the mountain with daggers being thrown at your back.

This week, our co-hosts connect with Talent Acquisition Superhero Kimberly Jones, to discuss the layers of resistance when affecting change and how to arm ourselves to better brave the obstacles.__Check us out on social!Instagram: wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

As first generation college students, graduates, and professionals in corporate spaces we're often navigating unfamiliar and uncharted territory. In this week's episode, we discuss how our experiences can feel like treading water and fighting the current without no life jacket in sight. All while watching our counterparts navigate a life a sea with all the tools and grace necessary to survive.__Check us out on social!Instagram: wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

In this week's episode, Crystle & Krysta unveil May's narrative, Navigating the Nonsense, paralleling the hard"ship" of being a woman color in corporate spaces with a life at sea. Quite often, we're left to face unanticipated battles without the tools we need to survive. Through the crashing waves, stormy weather, unsupportive crew, course correction, and self doubt...we persist.Tune in to hear our thoughts about why the nonsense exists and how we can navigate this water together.__Check us out on social!Instagram: wearemeaningful.coLinkedIn: Meaningful

As we close the Falsely Accused series, we chat with Dr. Timothy Clark, author of The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety: Defining the Path to Inclusion and Innovation. During this episode, you'll learn more about each of the four stages and how to decipher which one you're in before you make a move. And wait, there's more. Dr. Clark has offered up to 50 free copies of his book for our listeners. Download your free copy, today!

In this week's episode, we discuss how false accusations throughout society and within our criminal justice system impact and spill into our workplace interactions.

Some of us carry seemingly-healed scars from our experiences in corporate spaces, but the memories are sensitive to the touch. Shape shifting, code switching, back-bending, and coloring our identities to meet the demands of these spaces. The beauty of that image is only captured because of the kaleidoscope - pivoting to the will of its audience.

Although trust takes time to establish, it only takes a second to dissipate. In this episode, co-hosts Crystle & Krysta chat with Tolu Adesina about her experiences where there was a lack of psychological safety and ways for black and brown women to navigate similar situations. There are even some tips for leaders to foster psychologically safe spaces.

Falsely Accused elevates the experience of black and brown women who are often accused and assigned the role of aggressor in situations of conflict. This month, we’ll address how the lack of psychological safety ultimately affects the way black and brown women enter, behave, and connect with others in corporate spaces.

Organizations love our talent, until it's time to put in the real work creating spaces where differences are expected, respected, and valued. Bringing Decoding the Subtext to a close is Forbes 30 under 30 and TedX speaker, Yulkendy Valdez. Yulkendy challenges why organizations won't intentionally grow Latinx talent; and uses her entrepreneurial spirit to develop innovative approaches in tech, empowering Latinx students and elevating cultural responsiveness.

On this week's episode, co-hosts Crystle & Krysta sit down with LeRon Barton to discuss his thoughts and reactions to the Decoding the Subtext narrative and how we sometimes have to contort ourselves and negotiate to keep the peace - even when we've been impacted in a negative way.

Being a woman in corporate spaces isn’t great and research shows that women from marginalized identity groups have exponentially worse experiences - no matter the region, industry, or function.  It's important those in the dominant group take the time to listen to our experiences, accept that they’re real, and fix it. It won’t happen overnight, but we have to stop trying to fix the people and fix broken cultures, processes, and institutions that uphold the “isms”.On this episode, our guest, Victoria Walters, M.A. shares her experiences and hacks she's leveraged to navigate. She even drops some ways "majoritized" folks can help, along with some light reading noted below. Layla F. Saad’s ‘Me and White Supremacy’  Robin DiAngelo’s ‘White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism.’  Ijeoma Oluo’s ‘So You Want to Talk About Race’  'Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower'  'An African American and Latinx History of the United States' by Paul Ortiz

In this episode, we launch a new narrative, Decoding the Subtext. Co-hosts, Crystle & Krysta, share their reactions and encourage intentionality when we speak and interact with others.

Despite being the most educated, black women are often underpaid for their work and blocked from leadership roles. As we close the Unspoken Rules series, we connected with Dr. Marcelle Davis who revealed how her level of education has subjectively been perceived as intimidating and a threat in corporate spaces.

Organizations are obsessed with launching initiatives to increase representation of black and brown talent in corporate spaces. Although well intended, these tactics often have unintended consequences. This week, Kelli Newman Mason talks proven steps organizations can take to be more strategic and intentional in their quest to increase representation in a way that goes beyond checking the box.