Podcasts about Allyship

Hosts Angela Rye, Andrew Gillum, and Bakari Sellers are joined by guest-host Lynae Vanee to go deeper on the topic of Tuesday’s Texas primary. Lynae describes the way her own content was co-opted in a messy and divisive campaign against Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett days before the election. The discussion then gets into misogynoir and the racism of white liberals. If you’d like to submit a question, check out our tutorial video: http://www.instagram.com/reel/C5j_oBXLIg0/ and send to @nativelandpod. Welcome home y’all! —--------- We want to hear from you! Send us a video @nativelandpod and we may feature you on the podcast. Instagram X/Twitter Facebook NativeLandPod.com Watch full episodes of Native Land Pod here on YouTube. Native Land Pod is brought to you by Reasoned Choice Media. Thank you to the Native Land Pod team: Angela Rye as host, executive producer, and cofounder of Reasoned Choice Media; Andrew Gillum as host and producer, Bakari Sellers as host and producer, and Lauren Hansen as executive producer; LoLo Mychael is our research producer, and Nikolas Harter is our editor and producer. Special thanks to Chris Morrow and Lenard McKelvey, co-founders of Reasoned Choice Media. Theme music created by Daniel Laurent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of National Disability Radio, we sit down with award-winning recording artist, advocate, and author Lachi for a powerful conversation about disability pride, music, and unmasking. Lachi shares her journey, from navigating the music industry as a blind artist, to founding RAMPD, a coalition amplifying disability culture across the industry. We talk about what it means to say “I identify as blind,” move beyond the medical and social models of disability into a cultural model rooted in identity and joy, and remind listeners that no one can defeat someone who hasn't given up. From glam canes to Grammy stages, this episode is about claiming space, rejecting internalized ableism, and turning perceived flaws into flexes. Transcript: Alden Blevins: It’s Lachi? I feel very- Lachi: Lachi like Versace. Alden Blevins: Lachi like… Oh, I love that. Michelle Bishop: That is the best way to explain it. Lachi: I mean, but you know what I’m saying? Come on. Alden Blevins: Well, we’re really excited about having you today because we’re all music lovers in this group here. Michelle Bishop: Yes. Alden Blevins: We talk about music all the time. Michelle Bishop: So much. Lachi: Good, good, good, good, good, good, good. I’m in the right place. Michelle Bishop: Hi everyone. Welcome back to National Disability Radio, the official podcast of the National Disability Rights Network. I am Michelle Bishop, 1/3 of your podcast hosting team. Stephanie Flynt McEben: And I’m Stephanie Flynt McEben, public policy analyst here at NDRN. Alden Blevins: I am Alden. I am a communication specialist at NDRN and I am so excited today, like I mentioned, we’re all lovers of music, so we got a guest that I’m really excited about. Lachi is an award-winning recording artist and a recording Academy Grammy’s national trustee. She’s also a disability advocate who’s been breaking barriers in the music industry and beyond. She’s the founder of RAMPD, which by the way, is such a fun play name. I really love that. And the author of the upcoming book, I Identify as Blind. So without further ado, Michelle, you’ve got some questions to kick us off, I think. Michelle Bishop: Yes. We’re so excited to have you with us. As Alden said, we are. We’re huge music lovers. I’m pretty sure we spend most of our meetings where we allegedly plan this podcast just talking about music. So you’re absolutely in the right place today, but to get us started, I mean, you’ve been open about the fact, and I’m just really interested in this as a disability rights podcast. You’ve been really open about the fact that it took you some time to really embrace your identity as a blind and disabled woman, especially in the industry that you’re in that often really rewards conformity. Can you tell us a little bit more about that journey for you, both as an artist and as someone navigating just the world with a disability? Lachi: Okay. Yeah, for sure. Hey, everybody. Lachi here, Lachi like Versace. I am a Black woman with cornrows, chilling here in New York in my studio. I also identify as blind, I identify as neurodivergent, and I identify as an Aries. So do with that what you will. Michelle Bishop: All the important points right there. Lachi: All the important points like name, age, sign. Thank you. Okay. Yeah, but I’m really glad to be here. And thank you for that question, and thank you for having me. So music has always been a very integral part of my life of growing up. Where other babies would kick in the womb, when she was pregnant with me, I was playing the piano in the womb. I don’t know how she got a piano in there, but she’s not a liar, so I’m going to take her word for it. When I was super-duper young, I didn’t really have a lot of friends, especially because of the fact that I had differences and this and that. And so I would take to music to, I guess, understand the world better and have the world understand me better. I just knew how to express myself through song and it just said the things I needed to say. It was the prayer I needed. And because of music, I started to find confidence in how to speak and how to behave and how to act. And as I got older, when I was growing up, disability was not necessarily a thing people talked about a lot in schools and teachers didn’t know what to do. My parents didn’t really know what to do. And so I would always just turn to music. It’s actually right now I’m working on a children’s album because I think that kids need to hear music that has to do with disability and neurodivergence, as well as their parents as they grow up. When I got into college, I started wanting to do music, but I studied business and finance because when I told my parents I wanted to do music, they were like, “That’s not how you spell doctor.” because they are Nigerian immigrants and everybody else in my family went to either med school and blah, blah, blah. And I was like, “No, I want to do music.” But I did get a day job after school, after college, and didn’t love it because this girl is not going to exist behind a desk. So I ended up going to South by Southwest and I got signed actually from playing the guitar at a hole in the wall spot that nobody was at, except for this A&R apparently. So we got signed to an imprint under EMI, which was a major label back then, and we started touring and music then became my life. Now today, why wouldn’t I pay my respects back to music? I mean, it’s because of music that I was able to really lean into who I am, my disability, my confidence, et cetera. So because of that, because of how much music has given to me in my life, I’m here using music to give back to other people with disabilities. Now, your question was essentially, how do you sit here and try to bring about change for disability in an industry that is not only about conformity, but also about like, “Hey, pick me to exploit.” is essentially what the music industry is. You’re raising your hand to be exploited and that’s what kind of authenticity is that? But at the end of the day, music is some of the truest forms of storytelling. And I think to myself, just the way that hip hop has amplified Black culture and the way that country music has amplified rural culture and the way that different global musics have represented different global cultures. I want to use music to amplify disability culture. I want to use music to amplify disability stories and feelings that are difficult to put words to, that are words of the soul, which is essentially what music is. And so I started going to studios and realizing things weren’t as accessible as they should be. I started speaking with organizations and realizing things weren’t as inclusive as they should be. And the response I kept getting was like, “Oh, well, there’s nobody with a disability in the music industry, so why would we make these measures?” And so I have made it my life’s goal through RAMPD, which by the way, the best thing we ever accomplished was our acronym, not us working with the Grammys to get sign language on the red carpet, not us getting these partnerships with title, Live Nation, Spotify. I mean, we’ve done so much, not just for artists, but also for professionals. And we’ve started to realize something really interesting with the work we’ve done with RAMPD. We are getting people joining our membership who are director level folks, who are label owners, who are like the big wigs that write the checks, and they’re like, “I’m neurodivergent. I’m actually hard of hearing. I have a TBI.” And so when I originally set out, they said, “We don’t do disability inclusion because nobody’s disabled.” That was three years ago. Now I’m like, not only are there neurodivergent and disabled music professionals out here, but we all are. So really to conclude, it’s just that everyone is navigating trying to make it out in this world, but everyone’s masking. Everyone feels that they have to change some part of themselves to be as close as they can to what success looks like, be as close as they can to what “beauty” looks like, what winning looks like. But really all it is internalized ableism. And I say, as soon as we drop that internalized ableism and we really start to sit in who we truly are and we start to recognize our perceived flaws as flexes, that’s when we truly start to win. And so that’s what we’re finding out with RAMPD, that people are like, “You know what? I’m tired of navigating this difficult industry with the added layer of having to mask.” And so that’s why I do what I do. Michelle Bishop: Yes. And honestly, as ridiculous as it sounds that they say to you, “Oh, there aren’t any people with disabilities.” When I tell you, we see that in everything that we do. I do voting work at NDRN and we’ll have elections officials tell us, “This polling place isn’t accessible, but there aren’t any people with disabilities that vote here.” And it’s like, “What? You realize we’re everywhere and we do all sorts of things.” Maybe the reason they think there’s no people with disabilities here is because they’re stuck outside and they can’t get in because you didn’t make it accessible, just a thought. But I mean, it sounds like coming up against all that is really, correct me if I’m wrong, helped you to develop that identity and that disability pride in the industry. When did you first say, “I identify as blind.” and what did that mean for you? Lachi: Well, so when I first came into really doing the disability thing, really leaning in, I wanted to find out more influencers or thought leaders and such with disabilities. I didn’t really know that many people. This is pre COVID, 2018, 2019, that kind of thing. And so I came across an influencer, her name is Molly Burke, and we’re great friends now, but I didn’t know her back then. I had just seen her tagline and it had said, “I’m Molly Burke and I’m a YouTuber who happens to be blind.” And for some reason I was like, “I don’t know if I love the happens to be blind thing.” I was like, “Well, I’m proud of being blind. Blindness is part of my identity. I don’t just happen to be a woman. I don’t just happen to be a Nigerian. I don’t just happen to be all of the things I am.” And so I would go to… I was touring… We’re always touring and every time I tour and do a show, I do a comedic open where I just introduce myself, I do a quick self-description, et cetera. And in my self-description, I would say, and I don’t just happen to be blind. My blindness is part of my identity, has given me all of the opportunities I have, and it’s really made me a deeper blah, blah, blah. It was just too long. So I had punched it up to be, “My name is Lachi like Versace. She, her, I’m a Black woman with cornrows and I identify as blind.” And the interesting thing about that is people took onto it. They were like, “Oh, that’s cool, nice and punchy.” But whenever I would say it in front of a large crowd or like I’ve said it on interviews or during commercials, I would get this weird, I don’t know, pushback of like, you can’t identify as blind. Blindness is an identity. It’s a medical condition. Or they’ll be like, “Do you read braille or not?” Or they’ll be like, “We don’t want people to think trans blindness is a thing where you just have a blind identity.” And then you can be like, “Well, I’m blind today, so that’s my identity.” And I thought that was really fun. I was like, “Look, everybody’s upset. They’re talking about blindness though.” So I really leaned all the way into it. And I have to say, I am super proud of my disability identity. Was it music that brought me there? I think in a sense and in a way, like today I have a few songs, you guys are music lovers, I have a few songs out that really talk about my disability pride. I think that a lot of the times as we navigate the world, masking our disability, masking our chronic condition, our difference or whatever, we end up overcompensating. We end up building up this really, really thick problem solving muscle or this really, really thick how to get around things muscle and we overcompensate. When we’re finally accommodated, when we finally get to a place where we’re accommodated or we have the tools we need, we’re coming in like bulk as hell. We’re coming in with problem solving muscles. We’re coming in with all of these things that we had to build up because of navigating the world differently, because of every day working through this very difficult maze that is living a life unaccommodated, then when we finally are accommodated, then we are killing it and crushing it. And how could you not be proud of that? How can that not give you a sense of pride? So the songs that I would love for you guys to check out that are mine is I have a song called Life on Hard, which has gone viral several times on Instagram. I’m known as an Instagram rapper, which is like, what? Hello, I do disability advocacy. Look at that stuff. But anyway, so I have a song called Life on Hard, which is essentially about just winning the game of life, playing it on the hardest setting out here while people are still trying to consult the manual. I have another song called Professional, which is oftentimes when I walk on the stage, people see the cane and they’re like, “Aw, she’s going to do a song for us. Is this from Make a Wish Foundation?” And then I bust out these raps or I hop on the piano and I go ape on this piano and then they’re like, “Oh, snap. What? Okay.” And I’m like, “Bro, I’m a professional artist. I’m not object for pity to make you feel good because you felt weird on a Monday and you didn’t feel like getting up for work, but it’s like, she could do it. So can I.” I’m like, “No, I can do it. You most likely probably just can’t.” So that’s what that song’s about. And then there’s The Bag, and The Bag is just essentially like, I’ve been told no so much like, “No, you can’t. No, you’re not good enough. No, we don’t want you.” And I’m like, “You know what? Yes, I am good enough and I deserve everything. So I’m going to throw everything I deserve in the bag, which is everything.” I don’t know. I would not be the person I am if I didn’t love all parts of myself. And that includes my disabilities, that includes my neurodivergences and all of the other wacky, weird body jazz that I bring with me everywhere I go. Michelle Bishop: Lachi, can we maybe, do you and I just FaceTime each other every morning and hype each other up? Stephanie Flynt McEben: I was literally about to say the same thing. I would like in on a true call. Michelle Bishop: I don’t know if you know. Actually, I want to say quickly, I know some of those songs actually from social media, but they’re real. They’re so real. So people haven’t heard music, go check it out. I don’t know if you know one of our co-hosts, Stephanie is blind. You’re speaking directly to her soul right now. Stephanie Flynt McEben: I literally just texted them in our podcast group text and I was like, she’s totally speaking to my soul RN, but of course I don’t want to interrupt anything. Michelle Bishop: No, I know you’re dying to talk to her about the book, Stephanie, and take it away. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yeah, no, absolutely, for sure. And as somebody who is blind and who also identifies as a blind person and definitely does not identify with the medical model of disability, clearly gotten to more of a social model. But yeah, in terms of going through that journey of accepting all of who you are and everything about yourself, for me, I mean, it took a minute, especially when you’re talking about your experiences as a child and I totally feel that. I was that girl playing the harmonica on the jungle gym by herself. Anyway, this is about you. This is not about me, but I’m just saying that I totally relate to you on a spiritual level. And given that, I would love to know, were there any particular moments when it came to writing the book that were particularly hard or healing? Because I mean, I think that we all know that it’s not always a linear journey. Some days are going to be harder than others. And so would love to get your perspective on that. And I think that our listeners would be interested. Lachi: Yeah, absolutely. The journey for me has been one of constantly unwrapping this amazing gift. I always try to use that as the visual, if you will, of you have this big present and you get to unwrap it and then you just keep getting something cooler inside and then you get to unwrap that and you get something cooler inside and you just keep unwrapping this beautiful gift that is yourself. But you don’t realize that when you first get the box, the amazing stuff that’s going on inside, and it takes time to get to it. So a lot of times growing up, I would kick myself in the butt of, I wish I had come to this when I was so much younger. I wish there were people out there when I was younger, role models that I could look up to when I was eight years old and pointing on the TV and saying like, “Okay, well, I mean, I understand that Ray Charles existed, but that’s not going to…” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Stevie Wonder is here, Ray Charles is here, but we need more of us. Hello. Lachi: We need more of us. Hello. Exactly. And so this time and place where I am right now is where I needed to be for this to work. So I can’t really kick myself in the butt of like, “I wish I had this. I wish I knew this so much earlier. I would’ve been so much further.” That kind of thing. You have to be where you got to be where you need to be. Even right now, this conversation we’re having right now is going to have been necessary for the next thing that is happening in our lives. And just the other day, I was hanging out with Queen Herby, who’s been one of my favorite more modern rappers. I just did a thing with Apl.de.ap. I have done some stuff with Black Caviar. Folks that I’ve looked up to, I’m having the opportunity to Snoop Dogg. I’m having the opportunity to work with these days because of the fact that I am here at the right time now. So when I was writing my book, we were peeling back all the layers. I’m a generally very positive and energetic, social butterfly type of person today. But it’s interesting, I wasn’t always this person and I had to unpack all the layers to get there. One of the biggest things that happens to me, so I’ve always been low vision. So I was born with relatively low vision and it stayed the same throughout my teens and early 20s. But one day I woke up and my sight was just gone. Boom. So the interesting thing is anybody listening would be like, “Oh my God, if I woke up and my sight was gone, I would just die or I would not know what to do. My life would be over.” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yep. Heard that a million times. Yes. Lachi: But for me, it was weird because I was already low vision, so I was going from level one to the underwater level or whatever. So it wasn’t like that life changing of a thing. I was already using screen readers or Zoom text. I was already doing stuff of that nature. So I wake up blind and I’m just like, “Okay, I guess this is it. This is the day that they told me was coming.” What had ended up happening was my corneas had erupted. And so I went to the doctor and he was like, “You’re going to become completely blind. You’re going to go from this much worse vision than you’ve had to complete blindness over the course of time.” So here you go, here’s a coupon. Bye.” or whatever. So I’m like, all right. So I had decided at that moment that I wanted to start a bucket list. So I was like, okay, what are all the things I’ve always wanted to do before completely going completely blind? So I was like, let me go skydiving, let me go spolunking, let me go meet with people, meet with celebrities and just do all of the things I’ve always wanted to do before I lose my vision. So I went out and I did it. This is still me doing it. This is still me doing it. And so I say that because to people who say if I ever went blind, I would just die. Well, when I went blind, it made me want to live. And that’s what opened me up into being this person that I am today. Stephanie Flynt McEben: That is amazing. I genuinely love that. Lachi: We talk about charity model and propping disabled folks up as tools of pity. We talk about medical model, which is really just waiting around for cure, making the cure the hero. We talk about social model, which is a really good place to live in the sense of things are impairing if they’re not accessible. Society is impairing if it’s not inclusive. But honestly, if I have all of the things, like if I have all my tools, if I have all that I need and if folks are inclusive, then I’m still blind, but I’m not impaired. But I like to go a little step further into what is the cultural model. And so the cultural model is it’s not just a discussion of what society should and shouldn’t do. It’s actually a celebration of what you gain as a person who identifies with their disability or their neurodivergence, the things they need to overcompensate because they’re navigating the world a little differently, leaning into that. So let’s say for instance, deaf culture, sign language, and the fact that folks can have complete discussions outside of what we’re talking about, there is so much deaf pride out in these streets, that is a celebration of culture that comes out of disability. And for me, let’s say for instance, I have ADHD and it powers my one million and counting ideas. I have diagnosed OCD, which helps me carry out all those one million and counting ideas. I have diagnosed general anxiety disorder, which gives me my empathy and my excitement. And then I am blind, which when I have the tools I need, it gives me drive. It keeps me determined, it keeps me focused, and it gives me my dope ass glam canes. There was a girl and her mom, and she came up to me after a show and she was like, “Oh my God, your music was great.” I was like, thank you. She’s like, “Mommy, can I get one of those canes?” And then her mom was like, “Ugh, well, you have to be blind.” And I’m like, “Yeah, girl, you better want to be me.” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yeah. We drive sticks. Anyway, sorry. Lachi: Yes. You know what? I speak softly and I carry a big old stick. Thank you. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yes. Amen to that. Exactly. As somebody who considers themself a lifelong disability advocate, I never really thought about it in the sense of going beyond the social into the cultural. So thank you so, so much. We all learn something new every single day on this podcast, but I’d love to know a little bit more about, obviously you were very, very, very good at talking through these experiences in such a way that they are very relatable and easy to understand and that thing. So I’d love to pick your brain about the intended audience of your book. Who did you write it for? Other blind folks? Did you write it for, was it written for multiple audiences? Lachi: Yeah, honestly, I wrote it for the person who is masking. I wrote it for anyone who is tired of… Listen, let me put it like this. Let’s face it, disability is boring, a lot of the time it’s sad and it’s compliancy. We have to go the extra mile to make it fun because the actual truth of it is that the only reason it’s boring, sad, and compliancy is because society has kept it that way through its collective internalized ableism. And so my book is actually a humor book. It’s a pop culture book. It’s a comedy book. In fact, when we were talking to the publisher, it’s like, we should be putting this up against other comedic books, not necessarily disability books because it’s a book. I got so many jokes. I have dad jokes, they’re corny jokes, I have rap bars. I rap in a lot of the book just because I was like, “Hey, this rhymes.” I’m going to say it like a rap. We’re doing the audiobook right now, so I actually get to wrap it, which is really fun. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Oh, that is so cool. Oh my gosh. Lachi: Which is really, really fun. But really, honestly, what the book is what everything I do is it is using joy, soul, pop culture, jokes, humor, fashion, and just a really good time to celebrate disability, as well as community. So what you’ll find in this book is my story through my story, through historical deep dives, through interviews with some really, really cool popular figures and a really big deep dose of disability joy. And so a lot of folks who have disabilities, they will read this book and they’ll be energized. It’ll be like, “This is really great. I’m glad that I finally get to read a book that talks about disability in a positive way.” For blind specific folks, they might relate to a few of my stories because I talk about the day I woke up blind, I talk about when I went skydiving blind, I talk about just some of my interesting blind moments. But then I also talk about how I would go to red carpets and not know how to talk to anybody. So I’m in this amazing room with all these celebrities I can’t see and I’m just sitting on the wall. So I talk about some of the hard times too as well. But at the end of the day, really what the book is is an invitation in for somebody who feels a little different, a little awkward, has to mask, and just needed that invite in to talk about disability in a fun, joyful, celebratory way, to recognize that yes, that thing in you that’s different, that thing in you that society has told you you should view as a weakness and hide, you should be proud of. And I say this to people all the time. I say it in the industry, I say it to all my friends, I say it to anyone who will listen. I say it to my local barista and they come back and they say things like, “Oh my God, I’m so glad you said it that way. It turns out I have a titanium hip and I’ve never told anybody about that.” And that’s the vibe. The vibe is someone who was like, “I really needed this to be said to me this way, and now I am able to step all the way into my disability identity.” Alden Blevins: I love, especially what you said about joy. I feel like for me as an autistic person, my experience in the arts is that it is really a space where people who maybe don’t belong in other spaces or don’t feel like they belong in other spaces or are made to feel like they don’t belong in other spaces. I think that a lot of them really do find a safe space in music, in the arts, in theater. And I just wanted to ask, why do you think the music space is such a special one for you and why do you think it’s a place where other people with disabilities seem to flock together as well? Lachi: I mean, you hit the nail on the head. Counterculture, I mean, music often rewards counterculture. And then it eventually becomes mainstream and then we got to rebel against that. So music is a place where your soul can speak. And I think a lot of the times with disabilities, especially autism for me, I’m ADHD, OCD, a different neurodivergence situation, but a lot of the issue is communication. We don’t know how to say exactly what we need or whoever we’re talking to just doesn’t know how to hear what we’re saying. And so I think that what music does is it allows a soul to speak to a soul. A lot of the times music does this thing where you’ll be listening to a song and you’ll just be like, “That, that right there. That’s what I it me. That’s the thing I’m feeling.” type deal. Music has the ability to do that. And so for me, right now, this children’s album that I’m working on, the kids’ album, which is an album that is essentially R&B, pop, electronic, sort of the genres that I dance in for kids centered on disability and neurodivergence. Because what I want to do is be able to say, “Hey, I want you to point at that and say, that’s me.” And I think the easiest and quickest way to point at something and say, “That’s me also.” has been music. And so it’s why it’s been my strongest medium. Again, it’s not my only medium. I’m talking to folks through the book, I’m talking to folks through fashion, et cetera, et cetera. But again, music has been just the quickest, easiest point A to point B conversation easer, if you will, about disability. Another thing I also love to use is humor and comedy. So I make jokes all the time. They’re all bad. They’re all very not good jokes. I need to probably get a joke writer, but the fact that I’m having such a good time telling the jokes, I think I think is all that really matters. So I think both music and humor are just really, really great spaces for two people to get to relate to something that may be difficult to talk about. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yo, if you need a joke writer, I’m your girl. I actually do a joke every single episode of this podcast. Michelle Bishop: Her jokes are not better than yours, Lachi. Don’t hire her. Stephanie Flynt McEben: My jokes are pretty bad. They’re worse than dad’s jokes. They’re like granddad jokes. Alden Blevins: Yeah. Stephanie is the queen of the jokes on our podcast. She always brings one through. Didn’t know that you were working on a children’s music album, and I think that’s really interesting. I actually used to be a teacher, so children’s music is something that’s near and dear to my heart. So I just wanted to ask, what would you want to tell to younger people with disabilities, younger disabled creatives about claiming space and being able to tell their own stories? Lachi: Well, one thing that I heard from someone else, I don’t remember who it was. I think it was- Michelle Bishop: Jordan? Lachi: Yes, Jordan. He’s the one that said this. Michelle Bishop: I love him. Lachi: Yeah, he’s so funny. I met him at a… What did I meet him at? The Webby Awards or something. But anyway, no one can ever defeat someone who hasn’t given up. And for some reason that hit me, and I don’t even think he was trying to say it that deep. He was just saying a joke or something. But I took that and it was like, no one can ever defeat someone who hasn’t given up. So at the end of the day, you are really the only one who can end whatever you’re trying to get. Because as long as you are still going for it, it is still still there. It’s like a Schrodinger’s cat. It’s like as long as you’re still running for it, that opportunity is still there for you to have. The opportunity is never lost as long as you’re still going for it. And people can tell you, people can take your shoulders and tell you to go right. People can take your shoulders and tell you to go left. But until you take your own shoulders and go in the direction that your heart, your soul, your passion, your fire, desires, that is when you truly begin to live. And so I say personally, lean into that. I hear from a lot of younger, especially creators with disabilities. I mentor a lot of folks, tons and tons of folks. It’s one of the things I love to do the most. But what I love to tell folks is you are going to be the best you. And that you is going to include all of the different parts of who you are, but it is especially going to include you leaning in to the things that make you different and unique as unique selling points. Earlier I talked about how people try so hard to be the “definition of beauty”, definition of success, definition of whatever. Everyone’s trying to be this reference man. Everyone’s trying to be as close as they can to the reference man. And if I’m as close as I can to the reference man, then I’ll be successful or then I’ll get this job or then I’ll get this gig. But the truth of the matter is when we look at all of the people that are doing all of the big things, they’re “eccentric”. They’re “weird”. They did some big different idea that no one was thinking about and everybody fell into their trend. The further away you are from the reference man, that is when you start to win. That is when you’ll start to see success. That is when you’ll start to feel much better about yourself. That is when you can wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say, “I am fine.” When you are able to accept all of those different freckles of yourself that are as far away from the reference man as possible, because guess what? There is room outside of the barrel for everyone to win if they are all being their unique self and running their unique purpose. That’s what I would tell to young disabled creators. Michelle Bishop: That’s amazing. Almost feel like we should stop there, but I have so many follow-up questions. Lachi: Listen, I’m here to drop as many mics as they will let me keep breaking. Michelle Bishop: I was wondering how you see the conversation around disability and inclusion and evolving these days. And a lot of our listeners are people with disabilities or people who have other even multiple intersecting identities in which they experience barriers as well. What does allyship look like to you? Lachi: This is one of my favorite questions. So yes, we have folks with disabilities and we have folks who want to work with people with disabilities, want to help a friend with a disability, want to make sure they don’t say the wrong thing to a person with a disability, neurodivergence, chronic condition, mental health condition. That’s not an ally. Wanting to help a person with a disability is not an ally. To me, wanting to support someone with a disability, that’s an ally in the very basic definition of allyship. Here’s what I think an ally is. To answer the question, I got to do two things. One, talk about the disability umbrella. So the disability umbrella encompasses so many forms of disability. It is neurodivergence, which is ADHD, dyslexia, OCD. It is mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar. It is someone who learns a little differently. It is someone who has explosive situations like anger management. It is someone who has substance abuse disorder, maybe somebody who drinks too much or uses different substances. It is chronic back pain. You know what I’m saying? It is asthma. It is EDS. It’s POTS. It is long COVID. It is different complications that you gain after pregnancy. It is different complications that you gain as you age. It is different complications you gain through menopause. It is temporary. It is breaking your arm and wearing a cast. It is seasonal depression. There is nobody on this earth that is not within the disability umbrella. And I don’t mean that you’re going to grow into it. I don’t mean in the future. I mean right now. Whether you identify as a person with a disability or not, you have disability identity because you have experience in your body disability. And when you figure that out, then you’re an ally. Allyship is seeing yourself through the other person because you can’t look through someone else’s eyes unless you can see yourself in them. And you can’t see yourself in disability until you recognize the disability identity within yourself. All of a sudden, and I say this and people are like, “What? I say this, but I’ve seen this. I’ve seen it happen. I’ve seen people who did not associate themselves with any form of disability or anything and they’re just like, Oh, them. Oh, I’ll help them. We have a conversation and then we have a follow-up conversation and then we’re drinking and then all of a sudden they’re telling me all their disabilities and then they’re walking a little different when they encounter disability. It’s no longer a them thing. And so that’s what an ally is. People with disabilities are also allies. I am an ally to the deaf community because I recognize though I’m not deaf, I see the having to navigate the world differently in you of myself. So that’s how I define an ally. An ally is someone who understands their own disability identity and can see it in others. Michelle Bishop: Don’t mind me over here just taking notes. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Literally. Oh my gosh. Lachi, thank you so, so, so much for being with us and taking time. I know that your website, lachimusic.com is one of the places where folks can stay up to date on all of the latest and greatest things that you’re up to. Is there anything else in particular you would like to plug for our listeners? Lachi: Like you said, LACHI, L-A-C-H-I M-U-S-I-C. I’m on the internets everywhere. Instagram, Spotify, check out the old music. If you’re a creator, a music creator or professional with a disability, check us out at RAMPD, R-A-M-P-D.org. Or if you want to donate or if you want to partner with us over at RAMPD, please do. If you are a cane user, whether you’re a blind cane user or you use Mobility Cane, check out glamcanes.com, get your canes bejeweled. I Identify as Blind, our book is out on Penguin Random House, imprint called Tiny Reparations by Phoebe Robinson, who is also a comedian. So we’re out here all writing very funny books. So please check it out. And lastly, listen, try to find moments in your day of disability joy. And when you find that moment, take a picture of it or write it down so that you can go back to it and live for those moments. So thank you guys so much for having me on this podcast. It’s really been a blast getting to talk at you about all things I identify as blind. Alden Blevins: I love it. I was over here taking notes too because I just found so much of myself in what you were saying and so many things were poignant and empowering. I, as an autistic person, try to be an ally to other parts of the disability community myself. And that’s something where I’m always trying to put myself in the shoes of another person and what they might experience. So I think that’s really powerful. We were so grateful to be able to connect and learn more about you, Lachi. Lachi: Yes, yes, yes. So honored to be here, guys. Michelle Bishop: Before you head out, Lachi, do you want to hear one of Stephanie’s grandpa jokes? Lachi: I was going to say, I was like, “Let’s hear one of these granddad jokes.” Let me see. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Okay. This might be- Michelle Bishop: Okay, do it. Stephanie Flynt McEben: … a granddad joke. Okay. Where do spiders like to get their information? Lachi: The web? Michelle Bishop: That would be something to do with web. Stephanie Flynt McEben: But what kind of web? Lachi: Wow. Really? You are fired from being my comedy writer. You are fired to be my comedy writer. I was rooting for you too. I was like, let’s just… Please. Stephanie Flynt McEben: I wouldn’t even get to the punchline yet. Michelle Bishop: Worldwide web? Stephanie Flynt McEben: It is the worldwide web. Michelle Bishop: Oh. Stephanie Flynt McEben: It’s fine. It’s fine. My wife warned me not to tell that joke this month and I didn’t lose it. Michelle Bishop: Oh my gosh. I’m so glad you stuck around for that part. Lachi: As I live and breathe. Thank you guys so, so much. This has been so much fun and I will see who else I can tell that joke to. And go ahead and just to help you out, Stephanie, I’ll go ahead and embarrass myself by telling that joke to others. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Not my best work, but that is allyship. Yes. Michelle Bishop: Oh my gosh, Lachi, thank you so much. And everyone, please lachimusic.com. Check it out. Listen to the music, read the book. Alden Blevins: Speaking of the worldwide web, this has been National Disability Radio. We celebrate stories, leadership, and talent of people with disabilities. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation with us on that worldwide web at ndrn.org or anywhere you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks for listening and until next time. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Bye.

On this episode of National Disability Radio, we sit down with award-winning recording artist, advocate, and author Lachi for a powerful conversation about disability pride, music, and unmasking. Lachi shares her journey, from navigating the music industry as a blind artist, to founding RAMPD, a coalition amplifying disability culture across the industry. We talk about what it means to say “I identify as blind,” move beyond the medical and social models of disability into a cultural model rooted in identity and joy, and remind listeners that no one can defeat someone who hasn't given up. From glam canes to Grammy stages, this episode is about claiming space, rejecting internalized ableism, and turning perceived flaws into flexes. Transcript: Alden Blevins: It’s Lachi? I feel very- Lachi: Lachi like Versace. Alden Blevins: Lachi like… Oh, I love that. Michelle Bishop: That is the best way to explain it. Lachi: I mean, but you know what I’m saying? Come on. Alden Blevins: Well, we’re really excited about having you today because we’re all music lovers in this group here. Michelle Bishop: Yes. Alden Blevins: We talk about music all the time. Michelle Bishop: So much. Lachi: Good, good, good, good, good, good, good. I’m in the right place. Michelle Bishop: Hi everyone. Welcome back to National Disability Radio, the official podcast of the National Disability Rights Network. I am Michelle Bishop, 1/3 of your podcast hosting team. Stephanie Flynt McEben: And I’m Stephanie Flynt McEben, public policy analyst here at NDRN. Alden Blevins: I am Alden. I am a communication specialist at NDRN and I am so excited today, like I mentioned, we’re all lovers of music, so we got a guest that I’m really excited about. Lachi is an award-winning recording artist and a recording Academy Grammy’s national trustee. She’s also a disability advocate who’s been breaking barriers in the music industry and beyond. She’s the founder of RAMPD, which by the way, is such a fun play name. I really love that. And the author of the upcoming book, I Identify as Blind. So without further ado, Michelle, you’ve got some questions to kick us off, I think. Michelle Bishop: Yes. We’re so excited to have you with us. As Alden said, we are. We’re huge music lovers. I’m pretty sure we spend most of our meetings where we allegedly plan this podcast just talking about music. So you’re absolutely in the right place today, but to get us started, I mean, you’ve been open about the fact, and I’m just really interested in this as a disability rights podcast. You’ve been really open about the fact that it took you some time to really embrace your identity as a blind and disabled woman, especially in the industry that you’re in that often really rewards conformity. Can you tell us a little bit more about that journey for you, both as an artist and as someone navigating just the world with a disability? Lachi: Okay. Yeah, for sure. Hey, everybody. Lachi here, Lachi like Versace. I am a Black woman with cornrows, chilling here in New York in my studio. I also identify as blind, I identify as neurodivergent, and I identify as an Aries. So do with that what you will. Michelle Bishop: All the important points right there. Lachi: All the important points like name, age, sign. Thank you. Okay. Yeah, but I’m really glad to be here. And thank you for that question, and thank you for having me. So music has always been a very integral part of my life of growing up. Where other babies would kick in the womb, when she was pregnant with me, I was playing the piano in the womb. I don’t know how she got a piano in there, but she’s not a liar, so I’m going to take her word for it. When I was super-duper young, I didn’t really have a lot of friends, especially because of the fact that I had differences and this and that. And so I would take to music to, I guess, understand the world better and have the world understand me better. I just knew how to express myself through song and it just said the things I needed to say. It was the prayer I needed. And because of music, I started to find confidence in how to speak and how to behave and how to act. And as I got older, when I was growing up, disability was not necessarily a thing people talked about a lot in schools and teachers didn’t know what to do. My parents didn’t really know what to do. And so I would always just turn to music. It’s actually right now I’m working on a children’s album because I think that kids need to hear music that has to do with disability and neurodivergence, as well as their parents as they grow up. When I got into college, I started wanting to do music, but I studied business and finance because when I told my parents I wanted to do music, they were like, “That’s not how you spell doctor.” because they are Nigerian immigrants and everybody else in my family went to either med school and blah, blah, blah. And I was like, “No, I want to do music.” But I did get a day job after school, after college, and didn’t love it because this girl is not going to exist behind a desk. So I ended up going to South by Southwest and I got signed actually from playing the guitar at a hole in the wall spot that nobody was at, except for this A&R apparently. So we got signed to an imprint under EMI, which was a major label back then, and we started touring and music then became my life. Now today, why wouldn’t I pay my respects back to music? I mean, it’s because of music that I was able to really lean into who I am, my disability, my confidence, et cetera. So because of that, because of how much music has given to me in my life, I’m here using music to give back to other people with disabilities. Now, your question was essentially, how do you sit here and try to bring about change for disability in an industry that is not only about conformity, but also about like, “Hey, pick me to exploit.” is essentially what the music industry is. You’re raising your hand to be exploited and that’s what kind of authenticity is that? But at the end of the day, music is some of the truest forms of storytelling. And I think to myself, just the way that hip hop has amplified Black culture and the way that country music has amplified rural culture and the way that different global musics have represented different global cultures. I want to use music to amplify disability culture. I want to use music to amplify disability stories and feelings that are difficult to put words to, that are words of the soul, which is essentially what music is. And so I started going to studios and realizing things weren’t as accessible as they should be. I started speaking with organizations and realizing things weren’t as inclusive as they should be. And the response I kept getting was like, “Oh, well, there’s nobody with a disability in the music industry, so why would we make these measures?” And so I have made it my life’s goal through RAMPD, which by the way, the best thing we ever accomplished was our acronym, not us working with the Grammys to get sign language on the red carpet, not us getting these partnerships with title, Live Nation, Spotify. I mean, we’ve done so much, not just for artists, but also for professionals. And we’ve started to realize something really interesting with the work we’ve done with RAMPD. We are getting people joining our membership who are director level folks, who are label owners, who are like the big wigs that write the checks, and they’re like, “I’m neurodivergent. I’m actually hard of hearing. I have a TBI.” And so when I originally set out, they said, “We don’t do disability inclusion because nobody’s disabled.” That was three years ago. Now I’m like, not only are there neurodivergent and disabled music professionals out here, but we all are. So really to conclude, it’s just that everyone is navigating trying to make it out in this world, but everyone’s masking. Everyone feels that they have to change some part of themselves to be as close as they can to what success looks like, be as close as they can to what “beauty” looks like, what winning looks like. But really all it is internalized ableism. And I say, as soon as we drop that internalized ableism and we really start to sit in who we truly are and we start to recognize our perceived flaws as flexes, that’s when we truly start to win. And so that’s what we’re finding out with RAMPD, that people are like, “You know what? I’m tired of navigating this difficult industry with the added layer of having to mask.” And so that’s why I do what I do. Michelle Bishop: Yes. And honestly, as ridiculous as it sounds that they say to you, “Oh, there aren’t any people with disabilities.” When I tell you, we see that in everything that we do. I do voting work at NDRN and we’ll have elections officials tell us, “This polling place isn’t accessible, but there aren’t any people with disabilities that vote here.” And it’s like, “What? You realize we’re everywhere and we do all sorts of things.” Maybe the reason they think there’s no people with disabilities here is because they’re stuck outside and they can’t get in because you didn’t make it accessible, just a thought. But I mean, it sounds like coming up against all that is really, correct me if I’m wrong, helped you to develop that identity and that disability pride in the industry. When did you first say, “I identify as blind.” and what did that mean for you? Lachi: Well, so when I first came into really doing the disability thing, really leaning in, I wanted to find out more influencers or thought leaders and such with disabilities. I didn’t really know that many people. This is pre COVID, 2018, 2019, that kind of thing. And so I came across an influencer, her name is Molly Burke, and we’re great friends now, but I didn’t know her back then. I had just seen her tagline and it had said, “I’m Molly Burke and I’m a YouTuber who happens to be blind.” And for some reason I was like, “I don’t know if I love the happens to be blind thing.” I was like, “Well, I’m proud of being blind. Blindness is part of my identity. I don’t just happen to be a woman. I don’t just happen to be a Nigerian. I don’t just happen to be all of the things I am.” And so I would go to… I was touring… We’re always touring and every time I tour and do a show, I do a comedic open where I just introduce myself, I do a quick self-description, et cetera. And in my self-description, I would say, and I don’t just happen to be blind. My blindness is part of my identity, has given me all of the opportunities I have, and it’s really made me a deeper blah, blah, blah. It was just too long. So I had punched it up to be, “My name is Lachi like Versace. She, her, I’m a Black woman with cornrows and I identify as blind.” And the interesting thing about that is people took onto it. They were like, “Oh, that’s cool, nice and punchy.” But whenever I would say it in front of a large crowd or like I’ve said it on interviews or during commercials, I would get this weird, I don’t know, pushback of like, you can’t identify as blind. Blindness is an identity. It’s a medical condition. Or they’ll be like, “Do you read braille or not?” Or they’ll be like, “We don’t want people to think trans blindness is a thing where you just have a blind identity.” And then you can be like, “Well, I’m blind today, so that’s my identity.” And I thought that was really fun. I was like, “Look, everybody’s upset. They’re talking about blindness though.” So I really leaned all the way into it. And I have to say, I am super proud of my disability identity. Was it music that brought me there? I think in a sense and in a way, like today I have a few songs, you guys are music lovers, I have a few songs out that really talk about my disability pride. I think that a lot of the times as we navigate the world, masking our disability, masking our chronic condition, our difference or whatever, we end up overcompensating. We end up building up this really, really thick problem solving muscle or this really, really thick how to get around things muscle and we overcompensate. When we’re finally accommodated, when we finally get to a place where we’re accommodated or we have the tools we need, we’re coming in like bulk as hell. We’re coming in with problem solving muscles. We’re coming in with all of these things that we had to build up because of navigating the world differently, because of every day working through this very difficult maze that is living a life unaccommodated, then when we finally are accommodated, then we are killing it and crushing it. And how could you not be proud of that? How can that not give you a sense of pride? So the songs that I would love for you guys to check out that are mine is I have a song called Life on Hard, which has gone viral several times on Instagram. I’m known as an Instagram rapper, which is like, what? Hello, I do disability advocacy. Look at that stuff. But anyway, so I have a song called Life on Hard, which is essentially about just winning the game of life, playing it on the hardest setting out here while people are still trying to consult the manual. I have another song called Professional, which is oftentimes when I walk on the stage, people see the cane and they’re like, “Aw, she’s going to do a song for us. Is this from Make a Wish Foundation?” And then I bust out these raps or I hop on the piano and I go ape on this piano and then they’re like, “Oh, snap. What? Okay.” And I’m like, “Bro, I’m a professional artist. I’m not object for pity to make you feel good because you felt weird on a Monday and you didn’t feel like getting up for work, but it’s like, she could do it. So can I.” I’m like, “No, I can do it. You most likely probably just can’t.” So that’s what that song’s about. And then there’s The Bag, and The Bag is just essentially like, I’ve been told no so much like, “No, you can’t. No, you’re not good enough. No, we don’t want you.” And I’m like, “You know what? Yes, I am good enough and I deserve everything. So I’m going to throw everything I deserve in the bag, which is everything.” I don’t know. I would not be the person I am if I didn’t love all parts of myself. And that includes my disabilities, that includes my neurodivergences and all of the other wacky, weird body jazz that I bring with me everywhere I go. Michelle Bishop: Lachi, can we maybe, do you and I just FaceTime each other every morning and hype each other up? Stephanie Flynt McEben: I was literally about to say the same thing. I would like in on a true call. Michelle Bishop: I don’t know if you know. Actually, I want to say quickly, I know some of those songs actually from social media, but they’re real. They’re so real. So people haven’t heard music, go check it out. I don’t know if you know one of our co-hosts, Stephanie is blind. You’re speaking directly to her soul right now. Stephanie Flynt McEben: I literally just texted them in our podcast group text and I was like, she’s totally speaking to my soul RN, but of course I don’t want to interrupt anything. Michelle Bishop: No, I know you’re dying to talk to her about the book, Stephanie, and take it away. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yeah, no, absolutely, for sure. And as somebody who is blind and who also identifies as a blind person and definitely does not identify with the medical model of disability, clearly gotten to more of a social model. But yeah, in terms of going through that journey of accepting all of who you are and everything about yourself, for me, I mean, it took a minute, especially when you’re talking about your experiences as a child and I totally feel that. I was that girl playing the harmonica on the jungle gym by herself. Anyway, this is about you. This is not about me, but I’m just saying that I totally relate to you on a spiritual level. And given that, I would love to know, were there any particular moments when it came to writing the book that were particularly hard or healing? Because I mean, I think that we all know that it’s not always a linear journey. Some days are going to be harder than others. And so would love to get your perspective on that. And I think that our listeners would be interested. Lachi: Yeah, absolutely. The journey for me has been one of constantly unwrapping this amazing gift. I always try to use that as the visual, if you will, of you have this big present and you get to unwrap it and then you just keep getting something cooler inside and then you get to unwrap that and you get something cooler inside and you just keep unwrapping this beautiful gift that is yourself. But you don’t realize that when you first get the box, the amazing stuff that’s going on inside, and it takes time to get to it. So a lot of times growing up, I would kick myself in the butt of, I wish I had come to this when I was so much younger. I wish there were people out there when I was younger, role models that I could look up to when I was eight years old and pointing on the TV and saying like, “Okay, well, I mean, I understand that Ray Charles existed, but that’s not going to…” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Stevie Wonder is here, Ray Charles is here, but we need more of us. Hello. Lachi: We need more of us. Hello. Exactly. And so this time and place where I am right now is where I needed to be for this to work. So I can’t really kick myself in the butt of like, “I wish I had this. I wish I knew this so much earlier. I would’ve been so much further.” That kind of thing. You have to be where you got to be where you need to be. Even right now, this conversation we’re having right now is going to have been necessary for the next thing that is happening in our lives. And just the other day, I was hanging out with Queen Herby, who’s been one of my favorite more modern rappers. I just did a thing with Apl.de.ap. I have done some stuff with Black Caviar. Folks that I’ve looked up to, I’m having the opportunity to Snoop Dogg. I’m having the opportunity to work with these days because of the fact that I am here at the right time now. So when I was writing my book, we were peeling back all the layers. I’m a generally very positive and energetic, social butterfly type of person today. But it’s interesting, I wasn’t always this person and I had to unpack all the layers to get there. One of the biggest things that happens to me, so I’ve always been low vision. So I was born with relatively low vision and it stayed the same throughout my teens and early 20s. But one day I woke up and my sight was just gone. Boom. So the interesting thing is anybody listening would be like, “Oh my God, if I woke up and my sight was gone, I would just die or I would not know what to do. My life would be over.” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yep. Heard that a million times. Yes. Lachi: But for me, it was weird because I was already low vision, so I was going from level one to the underwater level or whatever. So it wasn’t like that life changing of a thing. I was already using screen readers or Zoom text. I was already doing stuff of that nature. So I wake up blind and I’m just like, “Okay, I guess this is it. This is the day that they told me was coming.” What had ended up happening was my corneas had erupted. And so I went to the doctor and he was like, “You’re going to become completely blind. You’re going to go from this much worse vision than you’ve had to complete blindness over the course of time.” So here you go, here’s a coupon. Bye.” or whatever. So I’m like, all right. So I had decided at that moment that I wanted to start a bucket list. So I was like, okay, what are all the things I’ve always wanted to do before completely going completely blind? So I was like, let me go skydiving, let me go spolunking, let me go meet with people, meet with celebrities and just do all of the things I’ve always wanted to do before I lose my vision. So I went out and I did it. This is still me doing it. This is still me doing it. And so I say that because to people who say if I ever went blind, I would just die. Well, when I went blind, it made me want to live. And that’s what opened me up into being this person that I am today. Stephanie Flynt McEben: That is amazing. I genuinely love that. Lachi: We talk about charity model and propping disabled folks up as tools of pity. We talk about medical model, which is really just waiting around for cure, making the cure the hero. We talk about social model, which is a really good place to live in the sense of things are impairing if they’re not accessible. Society is impairing if it’s not inclusive. But honestly, if I have all of the things, like if I have all my tools, if I have all that I need and if folks are inclusive, then I’m still blind, but I’m not impaired. But I like to go a little step further into what is the cultural model. And so the cultural model is it’s not just a discussion of what society should and shouldn’t do. It’s actually a celebration of what you gain as a person who identifies with their disability or their neurodivergence, the things they need to overcompensate because they’re navigating the world a little differently, leaning into that. So let’s say for instance, deaf culture, sign language, and the fact that folks can have complete discussions outside of what we’re talking about, there is so much deaf pride out in these streets, that is a celebration of culture that comes out of disability. And for me, let’s say for instance, I have ADHD and it powers my one million and counting ideas. I have diagnosed OCD, which helps me carry out all those one million and counting ideas. I have diagnosed general anxiety disorder, which gives me my empathy and my excitement. And then I am blind, which when I have the tools I need, it gives me drive. It keeps me determined, it keeps me focused, and it gives me my dope ass glam canes. There was a girl and her mom, and she came up to me after a show and she was like, “Oh my God, your music was great.” I was like, thank you. She’s like, “Mommy, can I get one of those canes?” And then her mom was like, “Ugh, well, you have to be blind.” And I’m like, “Yeah, girl, you better want to be me.” Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yeah. We drive sticks. Anyway, sorry. Lachi: Yes. You know what? I speak softly and I carry a big old stick. Thank you. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yes. Amen to that. Exactly. As somebody who considers themself a lifelong disability advocate, I never really thought about it in the sense of going beyond the social into the cultural. So thank you so, so much. We all learn something new every single day on this podcast, but I’d love to know a little bit more about, obviously you were very, very, very good at talking through these experiences in such a way that they are very relatable and easy to understand and that thing. So I’d love to pick your brain about the intended audience of your book. Who did you write it for? Other blind folks? Did you write it for, was it written for multiple audiences? Lachi: Yeah, honestly, I wrote it for the person who is masking. I wrote it for anyone who is tired of… Listen, let me put it like this. Let’s face it, disability is boring, a lot of the time it’s sad and it’s compliancy. We have to go the extra mile to make it fun because the actual truth of it is that the only reason it’s boring, sad, and compliancy is because society has kept it that way through its collective internalized ableism. And so my book is actually a humor book. It’s a pop culture book. It’s a comedy book. In fact, when we were talking to the publisher, it’s like, we should be putting this up against other comedic books, not necessarily disability books because it’s a book. I got so many jokes. I have dad jokes, they’re corny jokes, I have rap bars. I rap in a lot of the book just because I was like, “Hey, this rhymes.” I’m going to say it like a rap. We’re doing the audiobook right now, so I actually get to wrap it, which is really fun. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Oh, that is so cool. Oh my gosh. Lachi: Which is really, really fun. But really, honestly, what the book is what everything I do is it is using joy, soul, pop culture, jokes, humor, fashion, and just a really good time to celebrate disability, as well as community. So what you’ll find in this book is my story through my story, through historical deep dives, through interviews with some really, really cool popular figures and a really big deep dose of disability joy. And so a lot of folks who have disabilities, they will read this book and they’ll be energized. It’ll be like, “This is really great. I’m glad that I finally get to read a book that talks about disability in a positive way.” For blind specific folks, they might relate to a few of my stories because I talk about the day I woke up blind, I talk about when I went skydiving blind, I talk about just some of my interesting blind moments. But then I also talk about how I would go to red carpets and not know how to talk to anybody. So I’m in this amazing room with all these celebrities I can’t see and I’m just sitting on the wall. So I talk about some of the hard times too as well. But at the end of the day, really what the book is is an invitation in for somebody who feels a little different, a little awkward, has to mask, and just needed that invite in to talk about disability in a fun, joyful, celebratory way, to recognize that yes, that thing in you that’s different, that thing in you that society has told you you should view as a weakness and hide, you should be proud of. And I say this to people all the time. I say it in the industry, I say it to all my friends, I say it to anyone who will listen. I say it to my local barista and they come back and they say things like, “Oh my God, I’m so glad you said it that way. It turns out I have a titanium hip and I’ve never told anybody about that.” And that’s the vibe. The vibe is someone who was like, “I really needed this to be said to me this way, and now I am able to step all the way into my disability identity.” Alden Blevins: I love, especially what you said about joy. I feel like for me as an autistic person, my experience in the arts is that it is really a space where people who maybe don’t belong in other spaces or don’t feel like they belong in other spaces or are made to feel like they don’t belong in other spaces. I think that a lot of them really do find a safe space in music, in the arts, in theater. And I just wanted to ask, why do you think the music space is such a special one for you and why do you think it’s a place where other people with disabilities seem to flock together as well? Lachi: I mean, you hit the nail on the head. Counterculture, I mean, music often rewards counterculture. And then it eventually becomes mainstream and then we got to rebel against that. So music is a place where your soul can speak. And I think a lot of the times with disabilities, especially autism for me, I’m ADHD, OCD, a different neurodivergence situation, but a lot of the issue is communication. We don’t know how to say exactly what we need or whoever we’re talking to just doesn’t know how to hear what we’re saying. And so I think that what music does is it allows a soul to speak to a soul. A lot of the times music does this thing where you’ll be listening to a song and you’ll just be like, “That, that right there. That’s what I it me. That’s the thing I’m feeling.” type deal. Music has the ability to do that. And so for me, right now, this children’s album that I’m working on, the kids’ album, which is an album that is essentially R&B, pop, electronic, sort of the genres that I dance in for kids centered on disability and neurodivergence. Because what I want to do is be able to say, “Hey, I want you to point at that and say, that’s me.” And I think the easiest and quickest way to point at something and say, “That’s me also.” has been music. And so it’s why it’s been my strongest medium. Again, it’s not my only medium. I’m talking to folks through the book, I’m talking to folks through fashion, et cetera, et cetera. But again, music has been just the quickest, easiest point A to point B conversation easer, if you will, about disability. Another thing I also love to use is humor and comedy. So I make jokes all the time. They’re all bad. They’re all very not good jokes. I need to probably get a joke writer, but the fact that I’m having such a good time telling the jokes, I think I think is all that really matters. So I think both music and humor are just really, really great spaces for two people to get to relate to something that may be difficult to talk about. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Yo, if you need a joke writer, I’m your girl. I actually do a joke every single episode of this podcast. Michelle Bishop: Her jokes are not better than yours, Lachi. Don’t hire her. Stephanie Flynt McEben: My jokes are pretty bad. They’re worse than dad’s jokes. They’re like granddad jokes. Alden Blevins: Yeah. Stephanie is the queen of the jokes on our podcast. She always brings one through. Didn’t know that you were working on a children’s music album, and I think that’s really interesting. I actually used to be a teacher, so children’s music is something that’s near and dear to my heart. So I just wanted to ask, what would you want to tell to younger people with disabilities, younger disabled creatives about claiming space and being able to tell their own stories? Lachi: Well, one thing that I heard from someone else, I don’t remember who it was. I think it was- Michelle Bishop: Jordan? Lachi: Yes, Jordan. He’s the one that said this. Michelle Bishop: I love him. Lachi: Yeah, he’s so funny. I met him at a… What did I meet him at? The Webby Awards or something. But anyway, no one can ever defeat someone who hasn’t given up. And for some reason that hit me, and I don’t even think he was trying to say it that deep. He was just saying a joke or something. But I took that and it was like, no one can ever defeat someone who hasn’t given up. So at the end of the day, you are really the only one who can end whatever you’re trying to get. Because as long as you are still going for it, it is still still there. It’s like a Schrodinger’s cat. It’s like as long as you’re still running for it, that opportunity is still there for you to have. The opportunity is never lost as long as you’re still going for it. And people can tell you, people can take your shoulders and tell you to go right. People can take your shoulders and tell you to go left. But until you take your own shoulders and go in the direction that your heart, your soul, your passion, your fire, desires, that is when you truly begin to live. And so I say personally, lean into that. I hear from a lot of younger, especially creators with disabilities. I mentor a lot of folks, tons and tons of folks. It’s one of the things I love to do the most. But what I love to tell folks is you are going to be the best you. And that you is going to include all of the different parts of who you are, but it is especially going to include you leaning in to the things that make you different and unique as unique selling points. Earlier I talked about how people try so hard to be the “definition of beauty”, definition of success, definition of whatever. Everyone’s trying to be this reference man. Everyone’s trying to be as close as they can to the reference man. And if I’m as close as I can to the reference man, then I’ll be successful or then I’ll get this job or then I’ll get this gig. But the truth of the matter is when we look at all of the people that are doing all of the big things, they’re “eccentric”. They’re “weird”. They did some big different idea that no one was thinking about and everybody fell into their trend. The further away you are from the reference man, that is when you start to win. That is when you’ll start to see success. That is when you’ll start to feel much better about yourself. That is when you can wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say, “I am fine.” When you are able to accept all of those different freckles of yourself that are as far away from the reference man as possible, because guess what? There is room outside of the barrel for everyone to win if they are all being their unique self and running their unique purpose. That’s what I would tell to young disabled creators. Michelle Bishop: That’s amazing. Almost feel like we should stop there, but I have so many follow-up questions. Lachi: Listen, I’m here to drop as many mics as they will let me keep breaking. Michelle Bishop: I was wondering how you see the conversation around disability and inclusion and evolving these days. And a lot of our listeners are people with disabilities or people who have other even multiple intersecting identities in which they experience barriers as well. What does allyship look like to you? Lachi: This is one of my favorite questions. So yes, we have folks with disabilities and we have folks who want to work with people with disabilities, want to help a friend with a disability, want to make sure they don’t say the wrong thing to a person with a disability, neurodivergence, chronic condition, mental health condition. That’s not an ally. Wanting to help a person with a disability is not an ally. To me, wanting to support someone with a disability, that’s an ally in the very basic definition of allyship. Here’s what I think an ally is. To answer the question, I got to do two things. One, talk about the disability umbrella. So the disability umbrella encompasses so many forms of disability. It is neurodivergence, which is ADHD, dyslexia, OCD. It is mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar. It is someone who learns a little differently. It is someone who has explosive situations like anger management. It is someone who has substance abuse disorder, maybe somebody who drinks too much or uses different substances. It is chronic back pain. You know what I’m saying? It is asthma. It is EDS. It’s POTS. It is long COVID. It is different complications that you gain after pregnancy. It is different complications that you gain as you age. It is different complications you gain through menopause. It is temporary. It is breaking your arm and wearing a cast. It is seasonal depression. There is nobody on this earth that is not within the disability umbrella. And I don’t mean that you’re going to grow into it. I don’t mean in the future. I mean right now. Whether you identify as a person with a disability or not, you have disability identity because you have experience in your body disability. And when you figure that out, then you’re an ally. Allyship is seeing yourself through the other person because you can’t look through someone else’s eyes unless you can see yourself in them. And you can’t see yourself in disability until you recognize the disability identity within yourself. All of a sudden, and I say this and people are like, “What? I say this, but I’ve seen this. I’ve seen it happen. I’ve seen people who did not associate themselves with any form of disability or anything and they’re just like, Oh, them. Oh, I’ll help them. We have a conversation and then we have a follow-up conversation and then we’re drinking and then all of a sudden they’re telling me all their disabilities and then they’re walking a little different when they encounter disability. It’s no longer a them thing. And so that’s what an ally is. People with disabilities are also allies. I am an ally to the deaf community because I recognize though I’m not deaf, I see the having to navigate the world differently in you of myself. So that’s how I define an ally. An ally is someone who understands their own disability identity and can see it in others. Michelle Bishop: Don’t mind me over here just taking notes. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Literally. Oh my gosh. Lachi, thank you so, so, so much for being with us and taking time. I know that your website, lachimusic.com is one of the places where folks can stay up to date on all of the latest and greatest things that you’re up to. Is there anything else in particular you would like to plug for our listeners? Lachi: Like you said, LACHI, L-A-C-H-I M-U-S-I-C. I’m on the internets everywhere. Instagram, Spotify, check out the old music. If you’re a creator, a music creator or professional with a disability, check us out at RAMPD, R-A-M-P-D.org. Or if you want to donate or if you want to partner with us over at RAMPD, please do. If you are a cane user, whether you’re a blind cane user or you use Mobility Cane, check out glamcanes.com, get your canes bejeweled. I Identify as Blind, our book is out on Penguin Random House, imprint called Tiny Reparations by Phoebe Robinson, who is also a comedian. So we’re out here all writing very funny books. So please check it out. And lastly, listen, try to find moments in your day of disability joy. And when you find that moment, take a picture of it or write it down so that you can go back to it and live for those moments. So thank you guys so much for having me on this podcast. It’s really been a blast getting to talk at you about all things I identify as blind. Alden Blevins: I love it. I was over here taking notes too because I just found so much of myself in what you were saying and so many things were poignant and empowering. I, as an autistic person, try to be an ally to other parts of the disability community myself. And that’s something where I’m always trying to put myself in the shoes of another person and what they might experience. So I think that’s really powerful. We were so grateful to be able to connect and learn more about you, Lachi. Lachi: Yes, yes, yes. So honored to be here, guys. Michelle Bishop: Before you head out, Lachi, do you want to hear one of Stephanie’s grandpa jokes? Lachi: I was going to say, I was like, “Let’s hear one of these granddad jokes.” Let me see. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Okay. This might be- Michelle Bishop: Okay, do it. Stephanie Flynt McEben: … a granddad joke. Okay. Where do spiders like to get their information? Lachi: The web? Michelle Bishop: That would be something to do with web. Stephanie Flynt McEben: But what kind of web? Lachi: Wow. Really? You are fired from being my comedy writer. You are fired to be my comedy writer. I was rooting for you too. I was like, let’s just… Please. Stephanie Flynt McEben: I wouldn’t even get to the punchline yet. Michelle Bishop: Worldwide web? Stephanie Flynt McEben: It is the worldwide web. Michelle Bishop: Oh. Stephanie Flynt McEben: It’s fine. It’s fine. My wife warned me not to tell that joke this month and I didn’t lose it. Michelle Bishop: Oh my gosh. I’m so glad you stuck around for that part. Lachi: As I live and breathe. Thank you guys so, so much. This has been so much fun and I will see who else I can tell that joke to. And go ahead and just to help you out, Stephanie, I’ll go ahead and embarrass myself by telling that joke to others. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Not my best work, but that is allyship. Yes. Michelle Bishop: Oh my gosh, Lachi, thank you so much. And everyone, please lachimusic.com. Check it out. Listen to the music, read the book. Alden Blevins: Speaking of the worldwide web, this has been National Disability Radio. We celebrate stories, leadership, and talent of people with disabilities. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, share, and continue the conversation with us on that worldwide web at ndrn.org or anywhere you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks for listening and until next time. Stephanie Flynt McEben: Bye.

In dieser CULTiTALK-Folge begrüßt Host Georg seinen Gast Andreas Heitland, einen erfahrenen Ingenieur und Manager, der viele Jahre Führungspositionen in der konservativen Technikindustrie innegehabt hat. Im Gespräch berichten die beiden über die besonderen Herausforderungen und Dynamiken in stark männlich geprägten Tech- und Industrieunternehmen und beleuchten dabei die Bedeutung von Führung, Unternehmenskultur und People Management in einer sich wandelnden Arbeitswelt.Andreas teilt offen seine Erfahrungen aus drei Jahrzehnten zwischen Projektmanagement und disziplinarischer Führung, erläutert, warum gerade in klassischen Industrien oft die fachliche Entwicklung der Sprung zur Führungskraft ist und weshalb echte Freude am Umgang mit Menschen für exzellente Führung unersetzlich bleibt. Das Gespräch dreht sich zudem um die Frage, warum messbare Kulturarbeit und wirksame Führung immer noch Seltenheitswert haben, wie schwer es oft fällt, psychologische Sicherheit und „weiche“ Themen in einer maskulin geprägten Führungskultur zu verankern, und warum viele Unternehmen an zu traditionellen Führungsverständnissen scheitern.Georg und Andreas diskutieren offen über Gender Equality, den kulturellen Bias in Führungsentscheidungen und die Rolle von Allyship – und appellieren, dass echte Veränderung erst dann gelingt, wenn Männer wie Frauen in Führung neue Wege gehen und die Unternehmenskultur aktiv gestalten. Am Ende machen beide Mut, mit Menschlichkeit, Selbstreflexion und mehr Mut zur neuen Kultur einen Beitrag zu echter High Performance, Innovation und echter Zusammenarbeit zu leisten. Wer wissen will, wie moderne Organisationen von einer neuen Haltung profitieren können und wie Unternehmen sich jenseits von Konkurrenz und Silodenken zukunftsfähig machen, sollte diese Folge nicht verpassen. Alle Links zu Andreas Heitland:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-heitland-134b14158/Unternehmen: https://www.heitland-wirtschaftsmediation.de/ Alle Links zu Georg und dem Culturizer:Georg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georg-wolfgangCulturizer: https://culturizer.appCULTiTALK: https://cultitalk.de

Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD) is an ultra-rare diagnosis that often requires a long, complex journey toward answers.In this episode, Brigitte Cutshall sits down with Kelly Berger and Avery Roberts, hosts of the Wheel Talk with Kelly & Avery Podcast, to explore their lives with the same rare subtype of CMD. From meeting on a Zoom call to becoming close friends and collaborators , they share how they navigated the transition to mobility devices for independence and safety , the frustrations of a world not built for them , and their mission to amplify disabled voices through female empowerment.3 Key Takeaways(1) Diagnosis is a Spectrum: Avery was diagnosed at age seven after extensive testing , while Kelly lived with a misdiagnosis until her late 20s ; their experiences highlight that CMD is a spectrum disorder where every individual's journey is unique(2) The Difference Between Compliance and Access: The ADA provides only a "bare minimum" for public spaces , but many private or older venues, such as New York theaters, remain inaccessible , forcing those with disabilities to perform exhausting "pre-planning" just to run basic errands.(3) The Power of Allyship and Unlearning: Being a supportive ally starts with a willingness to "unlearn" misconceptions and assumptions about the disability community , understanding that there is power in collective action to enact meaningful, lasting change.Action items: - Support and listen to people with disabilities- Advocate for accessible environments- Stay informed about genetic testing and healthCheck out Kelly and Avery's stories on the Wheel Talk with Kelly & Avery Podcast—available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube—and follow their mission to uplift and empower rare voices.

On this week's episode with Matt Carroll, CEO at Nimble Approach, we explore how inclusive leadership, AI adoption and early-talent pathways create real outcomes in tech and consulting. Matt has advocacy at the forefront of his mind and has worked to collaborate to make the tech space a safe inclusive place for everyone. On this episode Matt shares how small, consistent actions can shift culture and the importance of taking ownership within your own career.You'll hear:• Why inclusive teams drive better outcomes• Ai efficiency and how it can accelerate careers as well as the challenge's• Ai in education and social mobility• Apprenticeships and early talent pipeline• Turning ideas into action with clear priorities and ownership• Allyship versus advocacy• Balancing work, health, and family to sustain paceFind out more about We Are PoWEr here.

In this episode of Allyship in Action, Julie Kratz is joined by HBR writer, executive and team coach, Kathryn Landis, to explore capacity erosion—the gradual depletion of energy and focus facing today's leaders. In an era of constant change and cognitive overload, Landis shares how leaders can reclaim their impact by shifting from micromanagement to intentional empowerment and strategic reflection. Key Takeaways Focus on Your "$100 Activities": Leaders often gravitate toward low-impact tasks for a quick sense of productivity. Reclaiming capacity requires identifying the high-level strategic work that only you can do. "Get really clear on what's the work that only you can do... what you actually could be focusing on that's going to move the needle the most is perhaps working with your cross-functional colleagues, the other members of the C-suite, to strengthen those ties." — Kathryn Landis Empower Your Team Through Clarity: High-performing teams thrive on a clear purpose and defined decision rights. To reduce your own workload, ensure your team understands exactly what they own and what success looks like. "Do people have a clear purpose? Do people know why they're a team? Most people know what their job description is... but I was leading an off-site last week; they didn't know what their team goals were. They don't know what success looks like." — Kathryn Landis Prioritize the "Lamp Post" for Reflection: Intentional reflection is a non-negotiable for effective leadership. Creating a dedicated space to process information—even just by talking to a metaphorical lamp post—can provide significant mental clarity. "If someone would go and speak to a lamp post for an hour every day at the same time, they'd get 60% of the benefit of coaching... just creating the space and time to be intentional about where you're spending your time, reflecting on what you're doing." — Kathryn Landis Connect with Kathryn and take her free team assessment here: https://kathryn-landis.kit.com/3dcf1c4440

Send us an email @ info@parentcoachesunleashed.com SummaryIn this episode of Parent Coaches Unleashed, Carrie Wiesenfeld and Jessica Anger engage in a heartfelt conversation with Paige, a mother of a transgender daughter named Chloe. They explore the journey of recognizing Chloe's gender identity from a young age, the importance of support systems, medical guidance, and the challenges faced in social transition, sports participation, and dating. Paige shares her experiences, insights, and resources for parents navigating similar paths, emphasizing the need for open communication, understanding, and community support.TakeawaysIt's essential to recognize and support a child's gender identity early on.Language around gender identity is evolving, and parents should be open to learning.Building a network of allies is crucial for a transgender child's acceptance.Medical guidance should come from competent professionals familiar with transgender issues.Social transition should be approached methodically and with preparation.Coming out can be a significant event for transgender children and their families.Medical interventions like puberty blockers should be discussed with a knowledgeable team.Participation in sports can present unique challenges for transgender youth.Safety concerns for transgender individuals, especially in dating, are paramount.Community support, such as camps for transgender youth, can be life-changing.Resources1. www.genderspectrum.org   Many downloadable resources General, Family, Educational, Faith, Medical and Mental Health, Allyship, Book list. You can also get speakers and speak to professionals 2. www.thetrevorproject.orgNon profit LGBTQ plus youth   They have a suicide hotline and so many resources3. Local PFLAG  and LGBTQ Centers  in your city   Just google it   Many have support groups, activities, advocacy opportunities, groups for parents and grandparents as well4. Psychologytoday.com to find a therapist using the therapist finder. You can enter your location, issues, insurance, preferences and other criteria and it will give you names, specialties, and contact information5. For specialists in medical care, go to WPATH Provider Directory, and https://lgbtqhealthcaredirectory.org6. https://harborcamps.orgBooks 1. My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis2. Raising my Rainbow by Lori Duron3. The Transgender Child (and Teen ) by Stephanie Brill and Rachel Pepper4. Raising The Transgender Child by Michele Angello  

It took years for U.S. leaders to address the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. One public figure that wasn't afraid to bring the challenges the LGBTQ+ community were facing to the forefront was the Rev. Jesse Jackson. In the Loop reflects on Jackson's work pushing progressive ideas and being an avid supporter of the LGBTQ+ community with Northwestern professor Martha Biondi and Equality Illinois CEO Channyn Lynne Parker. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Alyssa Dver, founder of the ERG Leadership Alliance, joins us this week to highlight the critical shift toward structured governance and the use of hard metrics to demonstrate how these groups drive corporate engagement and long-term business impact. My Key Takeaways: Governance is the future of ERGs: Alyssa emphasizes the shift from informal groups to structured organizations with clear governance and professional development paths for leaders. Measurement is mandatory: To gain executive buy-in and sustainability, ERG leaders must track metrics ranging from membership growth and event participation to high-level retention and engagement data. Allyship is a strategic bridge: Modern ERGs are moving away from exclusive "safe spaces" toward inclusive "brave spaces" where allies are formally invited to lead, learn, and advocate alongside marginalized groups. My Fave Quotes: "Got to have governance. Not because you want to control people, but because you want to have equity. And equity means budgeting is fair; the way that people apply and run these has to be fair." "It's a professional development leadership pipeline. So if you're starting to see these group leaders getting hired into better jobs, getting promoted, that's also a really good metric." "Employees involved in healthy ERGs typically show 10% to 15% higher engagement levels than those who are not." "There are currently at least 500 million people participating in ERGs around the world, and 95% of companies continue to offer and support ERGs because of their proven impact on organizational health." Follow Alyssa's work and research at https://www.ergleadershipalliance.com/

Guest: Tracy Camille Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, MSPA-CPSPEarn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/allyship-advocacy-pfdRelated Course: Lactation and the Interprofessional Practice Seminar: www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/lactation-and-ipFirst Bite is back for an all new season, and host Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, kicks things off with a powerful conversation on allyship and advocacy. She's joined by Tracy Camille Johnson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, MSPA-CPSP, Founder and CEO of Buttercup Therapy Services. Together, they explore barriers that BIPOC clinicians may encounter on their journey to becoming an SLP, how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) shape service delivery, and ways to identify functional, community-based resources that truly uplift caregivers supporting children with pediatric feeding disorders. If you're ready to reflect, grow, and strengthen your advocacy lens, this episode will meet you there. Come hungry for growth and leave feeling full.About the Guest: Tracy Camille Johnson is a Speech Language Pathologist, Pediatric Feeding Specialist, Certified Lactation Counselor, and Advocate. Originally from Chicago, she now calls Austin, Texas home. She is the founder and CEO of Buttercup Therapy Services which services the greater Austin region across the lifespan for feeding, swallowing, and communication skills since 2022.Show Notes:Lactation Seminar: www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/lactation-and-ipContact Tracy: @chattytraceface.slp on InstagramButter Cup Therapy: www.buttercuptherapy.orgBlack Mamas ATX (Love Money Cause): blackmamasatx.comNational Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing (NBASLH): www.nbaslh.orgFind Help: www.findhelp.org

Events:Monday, March 9, 7:00 - 9:00 pmThe Velvet Fox501 N Richmond St, Appleton, WI, 54911“Sharing Histories and Perspectives” - An Intergenerational LGBTQ+ Event, co-sponsored with Diverse & ResilientTuesday, March 10, 6:30 - 8:00 pmAppleton Public Library200 N Appleton St, Appleton, WI, 54911“Allyship in Action” - Co-sponsored by Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities and Fox Cities PACCopeland WoodruffMary and Michael Jaharis Director of Opera StudiesAssociate Professor of MusicLawrence UniversityEmail: copeland.woodruff@lawrence.eduhttps://www.lawrence.edu/conservatory/opera-theatreKristin RoachOpera Conductor and CoachAssistant Professor of Music, Lawrence University Conservatory of MusicCo-chair, Conservatory Advisory Email: www.kristinroach.com⁠https://www.lawrence.edu/conservatory/opera-theatrehttps://thor.lawrence.edu/calendar/main.php?view=event&calendar=default&eventid=1752678359005&_gl=1*qcv6h0*_gcl_au*MTMwMTQyOTYzNS4xNzcwMjk0NzIz*_ga*MTUyNTEwMDQ1Ni4xNzcwMjk0NzI0*_ga_C271Y0RWT3*czE3NzAzMDY4NzEkbzIkZzAkdDE3NzAzMDcwNjYkajYwJGwwJGgxNzk5MTIwMTM4

If you're an ADHD or neurodivergent woman, the pressure to be “acceptable” can feel relentless: capable but not chaotic, confident but not difficult, adaptable but not too much. This episode explores why patriarchy amplifies perfectionism for neurodivergent women - and how real male allyship can help reduce that pressure. One for your partner to listen to! Episode overview I'm joined by Lee Chambers, founder of Male Allies UK, to talk about what authentic male allyship actually looks like — beyond performative support or social media statements. We discuss: Why perfectionism becomes a survival strategy for ADHD women How patriarchal norms punish difference and reward masking The invisible load of caregiving and emotional labour How men can be allies without centring themselves or creating more work for women Why this matters Patriarchy doesn't just disadvantage women - it narrows who we're allowed to be. For neurodivergent women, that narrowing is sharper, harsher, and more exhausting. Reset If this conversation stirred something, tiredness, recognition, or that familiar “oh… it's not just me”, you might benefit from Reset, my gentle, science-informed experience for women who are burning out from trying to hold it all together. It's a chance to pause, soothe your nervous system, and reconnect with yourself - without needing to fix or improve anything first. www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/reset

What does it really take to lead with courage in environments that were not built for you? Gretchen Gagel, PhD, a trailblazer with four decades of experience in the construction industry, shares what she has learned about unconscious bias, the importance of male allies, and what it takes to create truly safe and inclusive workplaces. We also explore Gretchen's concept of grounded self-leadership, rooted in courage, humility, and critical thinking, and her bold vision for the International Institute for Women in Construction, a Global Institute dedicated to accelerating the success of women in construction, mining, and energy. This conversation is practical, hopeful, and deeply encouraging for leaders in any industry. Gretchen has degrees in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, and a PhD in Leadership, Organization Culture, and Change. She's the former Chair of Brinkman Construction and the author of a new book, Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction.  You'll discover: The real barriers women still face in construction and similar industriesWhy male allies play a critical role in inclusive leadershipHow grounded self-leadership strengthens confidence and credibilityWhat zero-tolerance cultures look like in actionHow research, storytelling, and convening leaders can drive lasting changeCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Allyship ist mehr als ein wohlmeinender Hashtag – es ist eine Praxis, die im Alltag der Musikbranche aktiv gelebt werden muss. Wie können wir als Künstler:innen, Booker:innen, Veranstaltende, Label-Leute oder Musikjournalist:innen echte Verbündete sein – für FLINTA, BIPoC, queere Personen, Menschen mit Behinderung und andere marginalisierte Gruppen? [ThemaTakt-Newsletter abonnieren](https://www.thematakt.de/about) [ThemaTakt auf Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/thematakt/) [ThemaTakt per PayPal unterstützen](https://www.paypal.me/thematakt) In dieser Folge diskutieren JNNRHNDRXX, Tina Wedmann, Fikri Anıl Altıntaş & Yannick Niang, was es bedeutet, ein:e gute:r Ally zu sein – jenseits von symbolischer Solidarität. Es geht um Handlungen, nicht nur um Haltungen. Wir sprechen über konkrete Schritte: von fairer Bezahlung über diversere Line-ups bis hin zu sichereren Räumen. Das Panel beleuchtet praktische Erfahrungen, Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze. Und es stellt die Frage: Wie sieht eine Musiklandschaft aus, in der Allyship nicht die Ausnahme, sondern der Standard ist? Diese Folge haben wir als Live-Podcast auf der Most Wanted: Music-Konferenz 2025 aufgenommen. Entschuldigt bitte, dass der Sound teils etwas schlechter ist. Der Inhalt ist dafür Top! In dieser Folge: JNNRHNDRXX Mit 26 Jahren hat die in Berlin lebende JNNRHNDRXX ein vielschichtiges Gesamtwerk geschaffen, das weit über Klang hinausgeht. Sängerin. Songwriterin. Autorin. Schauspielerin. Model. Vor allem aber ist sie eine Stimme, die trans* und queere Communities nicht nur repräsentiert – sondern sie kompromisslos lebt. Tina Wedmann Sie organisiert seit über zehn Jahren verschiedene kulturelle Veranstaltungen und ist gesellschafts-politisch aktiv. Geboren in Leipzig, lebt sie heute zwischen Hamburg und Berlin und reist leidenschaftlich zu Festivals in ganz Deutschland und darüber hinaus. Seit 2017 setzt sie ihren Fokus auf Geschlechtergerechtigkeit in der Musikbranche und später gezielt auf kritische Männlichkeiten. Ende 2023 gründete sie gemeinsam mit drei weiteren Festivalmacher*innen die genderkritische Plattform collective spotlight. Ziel der Plattform ist es, Räume männlicher Dominanz zu hinterfragen und zu verändern. Fikri Anıl Altıntaş Er lebt und arbeitet in Berlin und veröffentlicht unter anderem Texte in Die Zeit und der taz, in denen er sich mit Männlichkeit und Antifeminismus auseinandersetzt. 2023 erschien sein Debütbuch „Im Morgen wächst ein Birnbaum“. 2024 folgte der Lyrikband „Geografie der Unruhe“. Sein jüngster Roman „Zwischen uns liegt August“ erschien im Sommer 2025. Daran schlossen sich Beiträge für Deutschlandfunk Kultur und das ZDF, Auftritte am Schauspiel Hannover sowie Texte für verschiedene Theaterbühnen an, darunter das Berliner Ensemble. Darüber hinaus engagiert er sich ehrenamtlich als #HeForShe Deutschland-Botschafter für UN Women Deutschland. Yannick Niang Er ist ein in Berlin lebender Musikjournalist, DJ und Content Creator, der Hip-Hop, Kultur und Storytelling miteinander verbindet. Als Autor und Interviewer ist er bekannt für tiefgehende Gespräche, die Underground- und Mainstream-Szenen mit authentischer kreativer Tiefe zusammenführen. Ihr hört ihn auch in diesem ThemaTakt-Interview: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YIvdQzLsqEgspfelL3pCo?si=peZ-vQDPSNeTOFe436DQgQ Kapitel: 00:00 Intro 00:02:29.867 Wann hat Allyship in der Musikindustrie funktioniert 00:08:41.247 Echte Allyship 00:15:32.992 Allyship in der Praxis 00:20:14.971 Awareness Teams nur Schein? 00:27:51.767 Diverses Festivalbooking 00:35:20.080 Support untereinander Genannte Namen: Stadt ohne Meer-Festival Cristiano Ronaldo Feine Sahne Fischfilet Tupoka Ogette Ski Aggu Roskilde-Festival Fuchsbau-Festival Skandalös-Festival Lina Burghausen Wa22ermann Babyjoy Apsilon Haftbefehl Ikkimel Schwesta Ewa Nura Luciano Samra Cosmo Kiss FM

Episode 71 - Allyship after Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) backlash - Geeta Sidhu-Robb and Robert Baker explore men, women, power shifts, partnership and modern masculinity.Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only.  The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees.  We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.

In this bonus episode of Selective Ignorance, Mandii B delivers an unfiltered, culturally sharp conversation that moves fluidly between current events, social critique, and media accountability, opening with the realities of an impending ice storm and behind-the-scenes studio updates that set the tone for the episode [00:00]. From there, the discussion pivots into the viral backlash surrounding Mr. Tenderism, using the controversy to unpack deeper issues of ownership, branding, and representation within the food industry and how performative allyship often overshadows meaningful inclusion [02:51]. The episode then turns toward higher education, as Mandii addresses the ongoing Morris Brown College controversy, including the reinstatement of Dr. Kevin James, and examines what this moment signals about institutional leadership, accountability, and public trust [09:13]. Continuing the conversation on representation, Mandii weighs in on the polarized reactions to the release of the new Autistic Barbie, exploring why visibility matters, how intent can be misinterpreted, and where genuine advocacy can get lost in outrage cycles [12:00]. The episode closes with a broader critique of celebrity culture, authenticity, and performative behavior, as Mandii voices frustration with media optics and the ongoing tension between visibility, validation, and real impact in today’s cultural landscape [18:05]. Blending timely commentary with critical insight, this bonus episode offers a thoughtful examination of representation, media narratives, and societal expectations in a moment-driven digital age. No Holes Barred: A Dual Manifesto Of Sexual Exploration And Power” w/ Tempest X! Sale Link Follow the host on Social MediaMandii B Instagram/X @fullcourtpumps Follow the crew on Social Media @itsaking @jaysonrodriguez @mrhiphopobama Follow the show on Social MediaInstagram @selectiveignorancepodTiktok @selective.ignoranceX/Twitter @selectiveig_podSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the MuslimMatters Podcast, Zainab bint Younus speaks to Imam Dawud Walid about the political and cultural pendulum swinging to the right after the leftist allyship of the 2010s. She asks him about his book "Towards Sacred Activism" and what priorities Muslims need to keep in mind before choosing to engage with or seek allyship with political and cultural groups in the West. Are Muslims meant to be right-wing or left-wing? Tune into this episode for a deep dive into this contentious discussion.

Robert Baker, Founder and CEO, Potentia Talent Consulting Robert has been a passionate supporter of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout his 40 plus year consulting career. He now runs his own company, focussing on delivering keynotes, workshops and coaching for business executives to help them develop their inclusive leadership skills and so build diverse and inclusive workplaces.   Robert works with global organisations and some of the key projects he has delivered in the last twelve months include: · Allyship workshops and key notes · Executive coaching for male leaders on gender balance and inclusion · Unconscious bias workshops and training · Inclusive culture and leadership workshops and keynotes Clients include Generali, Marsh & McLennan, ENGIE, Pfizer, PwC Belgium, Zalando and many other global companies.   Robert has also spoken at many conferences, including recently: The Rise & Lead Women Conference, The Hague (September 2025) where he ran a Men As Allies Roundtable and the Global Women on Boards Conference, Brussels (November 2025) where he chaired a panel on AI and Allyship.   Robert is a Board member and Vice Chair of European Women on Boards, and is a past Trustee of UN Women, UK. Robert is Disrupter in Residence in DE&I on the Global MBA Program at EDHEC Business School and also a visiting lecturer on Male Allyship at the University of Amsterdam Academy.   In recognition of his work in gender balance, Robert was named a Top 50 Trailblazer in Gender Equity in January 2023 by We Are The City and was awarded as Corporate Male Champion of the Year 2024 by Women in Management. ---- SOCIALS: Twitter: @robertbkr  Instagram: @robertbkr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-baker-potentia-talent-consulting/  

When a young Christy Harst first announced she would one day replace Barbara Walters, her father laughed. Years later, that spark of determination would carry her through the competitive world of marketing, television, and eventually, voiceover—where she discovered just how few women were given the mic. Instead of waiting for an invitation, Christy decided to build her own door—and open it for others.In this Power Lounge conversation, host Amy Vaughan, Chief Empowerment Officer of Together Digital, talks with Christy about how one moment of frustration became a movement. From realizing the imbalance in sports voiceover work to launching Building Doors VO, Christy shares how she turned awareness into advocacy and data into impact.Amy and Christy explore what it takes for women—and the men who support them—to create real pathways in industries still dominated by old systems. They discuss the power of collective action, the influence of representation, and why inclusion isn't charity—it's good business.This conversation is for anyone ready to push boundaries, elevate voices, and reimagine what opportunity sounds like.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction00:10 – "Empowering Voices in Media"06:10 – "Combining Sports Passion with Voiceover"11:39 – Breaking Barriers for Women Everywhere17:27 – "Using Privilege to Empower Change"22:09 – "Power, Privilege, and Responsibility"27:31 – Voice Bias Study Sponsorship34:15 – "Breaking Barriers with Building Doors"38:40 – Power of Collaboration45:09 – "Ask for the No"48:04 – "Evangelizing Through Data and Stories"56:14 – "Connecting Communities and Networking"59:44 – "She's Inspiring and Successful"01:01:51 – OutroQuotes:"Life doesn't just happen to you—it happens for you. When a door closes, build your own and leave it open for others."- Amy Vaughan"Change begins when we stop waiting and start creating. Use your voice, stand together, and build doors wide enough for everyone."- Christy HarstKey Takeaways:Build Your Own Door—And Make Room for OthersThe Power of Community—and Collective ActionData with a Dose of StorytellingSpot Bias, Create ChangeAllyship in ActionEvery Micro-Action MattersYour Authentic Voice is PowerfulRepresentation Shapes RealityConnect with the guest Christy Harst:LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyharst/Website: https://www.buildingdoorsvo.com/Connect with the host Amy Vaughan:LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/amypvaughan Podcast:https://www.togetherindigital.com/podcast/Learn more about Together Digital and consider joining the movement by visitingHome - Together DigitalSupport the show

What comes after  toxic masculinity?In this solo episode, I take a deep dive into Ben Almassi's book Nontoxic: Masculinity, Allyship, and Feminist Philosophy—a work that has stayed with me both intellectually and personally. Rather than simply critiquing harmful forms of masculinity, Almassi asks a more difficult and necessary question: if masculinity can be toxic, what might a non-toxic masculinity actually look like?I explore this question by engaging three major tensions that many contemporary men—and clinicians who work with them—are facing right now.First, I offer a respectful but critical examination of the mythopoetic men's movement (think Robert Bly and Sam Keen). While acknowledging the movement's compassion for male suffering, I reflect on how its emphasis on an essential, ancient masculinity—often recovered in separation from women—ultimately reinscribes the very gender boundaries it seeks to heal.Second, I share my appreciation for Almassi's central contribution: reframing masculinity not as an inner essence or fixed identity, but as a set of practices shaped through relationship, accountability, power, and history. This shift—from masculinity as something we are to something we do—opens up new possibilities for change, responsibility, and growth.Finally, I speak personally about my own ongoing struggle to define masculinity in a way that avoids both unhealthy patriarchal norms and the abstract ideal of androgyny that, while philosophically compelling, often fails to resonate with men's lived experience. Almassi's concept of feminist allyship masculinity—grounded in what he calls “the unjust meantime”—offers a way to stay engaged with masculinity without mythologizing it or erasing it.This episode is a slow, thoughtful conversation with a book—and with a question I don't think has easy answers. If you're interested in masculinity beyond slogans, purity narratives, or culture-war binaries, this one is for you.If you'd like to read the book for yourself you can find it here for free.

Erin Dewsbury-Ribeiro is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and author of "Dreaming in Color: An Allyship Journey. During this insightful conversation, we discuss Erin's curiousity, passion for people, and what she feels is her responsibility to be an ally for marginalized communities. #BaxtersBuzz #Diversity #Inclusion #Equity Erin's book can be found here: https://a.co/d/aYZv28X

Being a guest on the HCI Podcast gave me the chance to talk about something I care deeply about: how psychological safety becomes the catalyst for workplaces where people can show up fully, speak openly, and actually thrive. At The Equity Equation, this isn't theory—it's the core of the work we do every day with leaders, teams, and organizations who want to build cultures where people feel respected, supported, and able to contribute without fear.Why Psychological Safety MattersPsychological safety isn't a trendy buzzword. It's a real, human need. At its heart, it means people feel safe enough to take risks—ask a question, share a new idea, admit a mistake, or offer a different point of view—without worrying that it will be used against them later.That's the foundation of inclusion. You can have the best policies, the most beautifully designed training, or the most diverse team, but if people don't feel safe enough to speak up, none of it sticks.On the podcast, I talked about how psychological safety has to be an ongoing practice—not something organizations revisit only when there's a crisis or a compliance requirement. It's built through consistent actions, honest conversations, and leaders who understand the impact they have on people's experiences.Where Psychological Safety and Inclusion MeetThere's no way around it: conversations about inclusion have become politicized in ways that often shut people down before the work even begins. But when you strip away the noise, most of us want the exact same thing at work—to be needed, wanted, and valued.Psychological safety is what makes those things possible.When people feel safe, they offer ideas more freely. They speak up about behavior or practices that aren't working. They share concerns before they become issues. They participate fully instead of holding back. This is inclusion in action—not a checklist, not a statement on a wall, but everyday behaviors shaped by trust.And one of the most important outcomes of psychological safety is that it gives people permission to advocate for themselves and for others. Advocacy isn't reserved for certain roles or identities. Anyone can notice when something isn't working for their colleague or their team. Anyone can be part of building a better culture.Allyship Takes More Than Good IntentionsWe also talked about allyship—and how often the word gets misused. You can't call yourself an ally without actually doing the work. Allyship isn't a title; it's a practice. It's a choice to use whatever privilege you have to challenge harm, disrupt bias, and make sure people feel supported.This work doesn't stop the moment it gets uncomfortable. And it doesn't end with a social media post or a corporate statement. Real allyship looks like risk. It looks like stepping in. It looks like asking yourself:“What am I willing to do—or give up—to make sure someone else is treated fairly?”That kind of courage is only possible in environments where psychological safety already exists. The two are inseparable.Equity Requires Understanding People as IndividualsThe conversation turned toward equity, and I shared one of my favorite analogies: raising twins. You may love your children equally, but you don't support them the same way. They need different things to grow.Workplaces are no different.Equality gives everyone the same resources.Equity gives people what they need to succeed.Leaders who understand this spend less time managing tasks and more time understanding the humans doing the work. Employees today want support, coaching, and mentorship—not just direction. They want leaders who can guide, not just supervise.That requires emotional intelligence. It requires curiosity. And yes, it requires psychological safety, because people won't tell you what they need if they don't feel safe doing so.Coaching as a Tool for InclusionOne of the things I emphasize often—both in my coaching practice and in the podcast conversation—is that coaching is one of the most powerful tools for building equitable, inclusive cultures.Mentoring is about sharing expertise.Coaching is about asking questions that help people uncover their own answers.When leaders coach well, they help people make sense of challenges, explore possibilities, and build confidence. Coaching gives people ownership over their growth. And that ownership increases trust—because they don't feel like they're being evaluated; they feel like they're being supported.In a psychologically safe workplace, coaching becomes part of the culture—not just something offered to a handful of high performers. It becomes a way leaders communicate, partner, and stay connected to their teams.Inclusion Benefits EveryoneOne thing I always try to make clear: inclusion isn't about giving to one group at the expense of another. When workplaces become more inclusive, everyone benefits. Collaboration improves. Innovation increases. Retention gets stronger. Relationships deepen.A rising tide really does lift all ships.The goal isn't to center one group over another—it's to create environments where everyone can do their best work without carrying the weight of fear or exclusion.An InvitationIf this conversation resonated, it's because so many organizations are searching for ways to rebuild trust, strengthen culture, and support their people more effectively—especially in uncertain times.Psychological safety is the starting point.It's the key to creating workplaces where people feel grounded, confident, and empowered. And it's the foundation of the work we do at The Equity Equation: assessments, coaching, training, and long-term partnership that helps leaders turn intention into action.If you're ready to explore what psychological safety could look like in your organization, let's talk. The work is challenging, but the impact is real—and lasting. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deiafter5.substack.com/subscribe

On Episode 612 of Impact Boom, Jenae Tien of Expand Today discusses catalysing authentic, inclusive communities across education, media, health and corporate sectors, and how effective allyship, diverse storytelling, and early childhood education can drive long-term cultural and systemic change. If you are a changemaker wanting to learn actionable steps to grow your organisations or level up your impact, don't miss out on this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, then check out Jenae's first appearance on Impact Boom, Episode 450, on helping educators and parents spark conversations around diversity -> https://bit.ly/3KeaLPB The team who made this episode happen were: Host: Indio Myles Guest(s): Jenae Tien Producer: Indio Myles We invite you to join our community on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram to stay up to date on the latest social innovation news and resources to help you turn ideas into impact. You'll also find us on all the major podcast streaming platforms, where you can also leave a review and provide feedback.

Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal-AI platform built for in-house teams.This week, Scott is joined by Katja Fenton, General Counsel and Executive Team Member at Fugro, the global geo-data company supporting safer infrastructure, offshore wind development, cleaner energy, and sustainable cities. Remarkably, Katja joined the conversation during her first 90 days—a pivotal moment when lessons feel sharpest, transitions feel largest, and instincts matter most.Katja reflects on the early months of stepping into C-suite leadership while taking on responsibility for a global legal & compliance function of around 60 professionals across four regions. Her first lesson—integrity is trusting your gut, even when it's uncomfortable—comes from a defining moment early in her career, when she turned down a high-profile international assignment because the work didn't align with her values. She shares how that instinct has shaped her approach to ethics, leadership, and decision-making ever since.Her second lesson explores the quiet but transformative power of allyship and sponsorship: the people who open doors for you when you're not in the room. Katja discusses the individuals who have championed her career—from a sixth-form teacher who changed her university path, to leaders who offered opportunities at critical moments—and why she now feels a responsibility to pay it forward.Her final lesson reframes imposter syndrome as evidence of growth. From Dubai's major construction projects to stepping into the executive team at Fugro, Katja describes how feeling out of depth has consistently signalled the start of her biggest periods of development.Katja also speaks candidly about global mobility, returning to Europe after years in Asia, building diverse teams, raising three young children in the Netherlands, and the importance of curiosity as a core legal skill.Guest Recommendations

The Clare Leader Forum will host an event at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis next week. People Power: Disabled Activism and Allyship in Driving Change, Inclusion, Equality and Combating Ableism, which takes place on Wednesday, 3rd December, will bring together activists, allies, volunteers, community workers, organisational representatives and public representatives from across Ireland to discuss the importance of grassroots leadership and collective action driving social change. Alan Morrissey was joined by a long-time campaigner and founding member of the movement in Clare, Dermot Hayes and Communications and Public Advocacy Officer, Ann Marie Flanagan.

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"It's critical for ministry leaders to understand their responsibility and opportunity to help people in their churches who are sexually struggling. That was a key theme in our rich conversation with Sam Black, Director of Recovery Education at Covenant Eyes. Sam explained that empathy plus action breaks porn's grip, and how churches can become truly safe communities for strugglers and spouses. We talked about practical tools, trauma-informed insights, and a clear path toward allyship, healing, and prevention.Some of the themes from our conversation included...• Early exposure + repetition + pain = a common pathway into pornography.• Allyship and accessibility work better than traditional accountability.• How mind-body-spirit healing helps interrupt the addiction cycle.• What constitutes safe people in safe places with a safe process.• How church leaders often unintentionally add harm to betrayed spouses.• Sex (or more sex) is not the solution to porn use.• How to find available, practical, ready-to-use tools for pastors and leaders.• How healing it is when leaders  admit mistakes & repair ruptures.#samblack #covenanteyes #thehealingchurch #pornographyaddiction #therapy #healing #addiction #trauma #vulnerability #recovery #grace #gospel #transformationCovenant Eyes websiteFive Stones pastor kit (FREE from Covenant Eyes)The Healing Church book (Amazon) Support the showAwaken websiteRoots Retreat Men's IntensiveRoots Retreat Women's WorkshopAwaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

What Does Convenient Allyship Mean? Learn more about this term on today's podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Organizational and community development consultant Sarah Phelps recognized early in life that she was neurodivergent and very very smart. Influenced by her experiences from the rural midwestern town of her upbringing to time in France, India, China and more, Phelps has become a champion for people thriving, bringing a deep care for community at every opportunity.With an IQ over 160, Sarah Phelps is smart. She is a facilitator, strategist, and community builder who helps organizations weave wellbeing, equity, and innovation into the everyday realities of learning, leadership development, and culture change. Drawing on more than 20 years of nonprofit and corporate experience in strategic HR and organizational development, she's known for identifying solutions that stick. Phelps has consulted with values-driven organizations nationwide—including OutNebraska and Inclusive Communities—to cultivate inclusive, mission-aligned teams and brave, growth-oriented conversations. She is the founder of the Emerging Speakers Institute, co-founder of Leaders for Equity, Allyship and Diversity, a speaker with Hummingbird Humanity, and Board President of Umbrella US, where she champions neurodivergent and LGBTQ thriving. A voracious reader, gardener, and singer, Phelps brings curiosity, creativity, and deep care for community to every room she's in.********************Today's show and others are supported by the generous membership of Amy and Tom Trenolone.*Bonus content* for Lives members only features exclusive content and more. Find a Lives membership tier that fits you - support link here.

In this episode, Dr. David G. Smith reveals why 96% of women see real progress in gender equality only when men are actively engaged as allies—and why the biggest barrier isn't #MeToo fears, but outdated zero-sum thinking that equity for women means loss for men. From addressing the mentor hesitation to exploring how fair share caregiving at home unlocks workplace equity, David offers a practical roadmap for leaders ready to move from performative allyship to meaningful action.

Let's explore the power of having and implementing a playbook—a structured framework that guides teams to operate with alignment, consistency, and purpose.  We continue our mini-series around our new book, Identically Opposite: Find Your Voice and SPEAK. We provide some insight into our SPEAK playbook.   Highlights include: How playbooks from sports translate into scalable business success. A successful playbook involves every member of the team. Why communication and consistency are key to execution. Micro-adjustments to your playbook for leadership and performance; "whatever team comes out after halftime, making the best adjustments is usually the team that wins' The five-step SPEAK framework: See, Prepare, Enthusiasm, Allyship, Keep Preaching Intentionally. Build and sustain a speak-up culture within your organization. Order your copy of Identically Opposite: Find Your Voice and SPEAK today on Amazon and start developing your playbook for finding your voice and leading with impact.   Timestamps: 6:59 Playbook Involves Every Member  10:31 Micro-Adjust to Win 12:20 Measure Success 19:52 SPEAK playbook 

Host Nayeli Diaz sits down with tribal attorney Leah Jurss to demystify the vast and often-overlooked world of tribal law. Leah shares her unique perspective from working both in a firm serving tribes and as in-house counsel for the Bay Mills Indian Community.In a candid and informative interview, Leah dispels common myths and explains why a foundational understanding of tribal sovereignty is essential for all legal professionals, no matter their field. She highlights the wide range of legal issues that intersect with tribal communities and offers a clear roadmap for how law students can start learning about this fascinating and rewarding area of law.In this episode, we discuss:Federal Indian Law vs. Tribal Law: The key differences between the laws governing the relationship with the U.S. government and the laws tribes use to govern themselves.The Right Terminology: Why "Indian law" is still used and when it's appropriate to identify a specific tribe.Effective Advocacy: Leah's experience working with non-native lawyers and her advice on how to be an effective advocate for a tribal community by respecting cultural norms.A Rewarding Career: Why a career in tribal law is never boring, offering a chance to touch on many different practice areas, from family and environmental law to legislation and business development.Resources for Students: Actionable steps you can take today to learn more, including which law school classes to take and the value of joining organizations like the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA).(00:00) - Introduction: The Importance of Tribal Law for Law Students (01:36) - Introducing Guest Leah Jurss & The Topic of Tribal Law (03:53) - The Term "Indian Law": Why Is It Still Used? (04:40) - The Difference Between Federal Indian Law and Tribal Law (06:19) - In-House vs. Law Firm Practice: The Differences (08:14) - Being a Non-Native in Indian Law: A Discussion on Allyship (10:20) - The Importance of a Baseline Understanding for All Lawyers (13:12) - Resources for Learning Tribal Law in Law School (16:28) - Leah's Career Path: From Law Student to Tribal Attorney (19:35) - A Day in the Life of a Tribal Attorney (23:57) - A Favorite Project: Drafting a Judicial Ethics Code (26:22) - Final Takeaways: The Importance of Sovereignty (27:33) - Conclusion & Outro Click here to view the episode transcript.

Chantelle Lewis and Jason Arday, co-authors of the book We See Things They'll Never See, join the show to discuss their work. Arday, a professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge, and Lewis, an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Black British Studies at Pembroke College, the University of Oxford, delve into how their experiences as Black, neurodivergent academics influenced their book. Together, they share the motivation behind their work, highlighting the importance of challenging societal infringements and advocating for marginalized communities. Here are my favorite takeaways: We discuss the importance of showing compassion and empathy, especially to those who seem to deserve it the least. As Arday states, "sometimes when people least deserve it, that's when they deserve the most compassion". Lewis explains the book's critical look at the workplace, where neurodivergent individuals are sometimes seen as "superhumans" who can produce more for a capitalist system. This creates a system in which their marginalization is used to uphold a system of oppression. "The way we are marginalized can also be used as a way to keep this system in place," Lewis says. Arday and Lewis propose that to improve society, there must be a move away from the current educational model. This includes the abolition of exams, as they are not necessarily correlated with future success or positive academic outcomes. Lewis argues that "we need to stop measuring education outcomes by just test scores." Follow Dr Chantelle Jessica Lewis' research at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, podcast Surviving Society

In this empowering episode, Elaine Lin Herring shares how women can unlearn silence, reclaim their voice, and speak their mind with agency. Whether dealing with ancestral, familial, or workplace cultures, you'll understand why women self-edit, choose to be silent, and how to be heard. Elaine also helps us navigate professional settings to understanding how leaders can include those who are internal processors to make sure everyone can weigh in in a way that honors their communication style. The conversation ends with actionable strategies for women to communicate authentically, set boundaries, and lead with impact. They also discuss the importance of taking accountability when inadvertently silencing others and creating more inclusive environments. If you're ready to find your voice, express your ideas, and thrive personally and professionally, this conversation is a must-listen. Be sure to share it with your friends. RESOURCES MENTIONED JOIN MICHELE'S NEWSLETTER FOLLOW on YOUTUBEMichele's Book: Design A Life You Love: A Woman's Guide to Living a Happier and More Fulfilled Life   GUEST INFORMATION Website: www.elainelinhering.com Book: Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More FullyLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainelinhering If you enjoyed this interview, please take a moment to rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or other podcast player.   *The Good Life with Michele Lamoureux podcast and content provided by Michele Lamoureux is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It does NOT constitute medical, mental health, professional, personal, or any kind of advice or serve as a substitute for such advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. Always consult a qualified healthcare or trusted provider for any decisions regarding your health and wellbeing.  

Lucinda is joined by allyship expert Julie Kratz, who discusses her research on why people with power often disengage from conversations about diversity and inclusion, feeling either "threatened" or "irrelevant."  Together they explore her latest book, which outlines a "use fear as fuel" strategy and introduces a framework for building allyship programs. Julie stresses that everyone has power and a social responsibility to champion inclusion, arguing that strong allyship is less about transactional "doing" and more about building meaningful relationships that lead to personal fulfilment, better team dynamics, and positive organisational change. KEY TAKEAWAYS Many people in positions of power, particularly white men, do not believe conversations about diversity and inclusion are meant to include them, often fuelled by fears of status loss, irrelevance, or the belief that allyship offers "all risk, no reward." Everyone has power, and the first step to becoming an effective ally is to build a strong "allyship why" rooted in the understanding that humans are a social species whose survival and happiness depend on collaboration and helping one another. Effective allyship involves moving beyond individual action to creating systemic change, which includes building highly customised allyship programs that focus on key behaviours like modeling and storytelling to make inclusive practices contagious. Organisations need to focus on building inclusive policies (e.g., caregiving leave, pay equity) and objective hiring and promotion processes to minimise bias, as people are often judged on potential (if they resemble current leadership) or actual performance (if they are different). BEST MOMENTS "The first step that I offer is really building your allyship why. Like why do you want to be helpful to other people?" "Power's not bad, it's what you do with it that matters. And so don't you want to be on the good side of history, like don't you want to be the one that's standing up to social issues, even if it doesn't impact you?" "The more you are look and act like the C-suite leader, that again is predominantly white male, the more you have proxy to power." "Modelling plus storytelling. So I can model the behaviour, and you could be like, 'Yeah, that's great for Julie, but that doesn't really work for me and my style.' But what if I told you a story in addition to that, that you could kind of see yourself in?" VALUABLE RESOURCES The HR Uprising Podcast | ⁠Apple⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Stitcher⁠   ⁠The HR Uprising LinkedIn Group⁠ ⁠How to Prioritise Self-Care (The HR Uprising)⁠ ⁠How To Be A Change Superhero - by Lucinda Carney⁠ HR Uprising Mastermind - ⁠https://hruprising.com/mastermind/⁠   ⁠www.changesuperhero.com⁠ ⁠www.hruprising.com⁠            Get your copy of How To Be A Change Superhero by emailing at ⁠info@actus.co.uk⁠ CONTACT JULIE Her LinkedIn- ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekratz/⁠ The Next Pivot Point Website - ⁠https://www.nextpivotpoint.com/ ABOUT THE HOST Lucinda Carney is a Business Psychologist with 15 years in Senior Corporate L&D roles and a further 10 as CEO of Actus Software where she worked closely with HR colleagues helping them to solve the same challenges across a huge range of industries. It was this breadth of experience that inspired Lucinda to set up the HR Uprising community to facilitate greater collaboration across HR professionals in different sectors, helping them to ‘rise up' together. “If you look up, you rise up” CONTACT METHOD Join the LinkedIn community - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13714397/⁠ Email: ⁠Lucinda@advancechange.co.uk⁠ Linked In: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucindacarney/⁠ Twitter: @lucindacarney Instagram: @hruprising Facebook: @hruprising This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Yurok fisherman and tribal leader Sammy Gensaw and environmental scientist-turned-activist Craig Tucker share the epic story of how Indigenous leadership and non-Indian allyship made the impossible inevitable: the biggest-ever dam removal and salmon restoration in history. It represented a literal watershed moment; unprecedented co-equal decision-making between the tribes and their historical nemesis – the US government. Once complete in 2024, the project will liberate the Klamath river and several tributaries to once again run free across 400-miles from Oregon through California and into the Pacific Ocean. Featuring Sammy Gensaw (Yurok) is the Founding Director of the Ancestral Guard, Artist, Yurok Language Speaker, Singer, Writer, Cultural/Political/Environmental Activist, Regalia Maker, Mediator, Youth Leader & Fisherman. Craig Tucker has 20+ years of advocacy and activism experience, especially working with tribal members, fishermen and farmers in the Klamath Basin on dam removal, traditional fire management, gold mining, and water policy, and is the founder and Principal of Suits and Signs Consulting. Indigenous Forum – Undam the Klamath! How Tribes Led the Largest River Restoration Project in US History | Bioneers 2023 The river that came back to life: a journey down the reborn Klamath | The Guardian Executive Producer: Kenny Ausubel Written by: Kenny Ausubel Senior Producer and Station Relations: Stephanie Welch Host and Consulting Producer: Neil Harvey Program Engineer and Music Supervisor: Emily Harris Producer: Teo Grossman

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about allyship. My guest this week is Julie Kratz, founder of Next Pivot Point and a longtime inclusion and allyship strategist. Julie pulls back the curtain on why words like “inclusion” and “ally” have become so charged, what's actually legal in this space, and how leaders at every level can use the power they already have to create cultures where people belong. We explore “power with” versus “power over,” how to spot your own sources of power, and why going back to basics like trust, self-awareness and clear measurement is the most practical way forward right now. We also discuss how to meet persuadable people where they are, start with a personal why, and build momentum together instead of burning out as a lone voice. About My GuestJulie Kratz has dedicated her career to allyship and inclusion. After spending 12 years in Corporate America experiencing many career “pivot points,” due to her own lack of belonging, she started her own speaking business with the goal of helping leaders be better allies. Promoting allyship in the workplace, she helps organizations foster more inclusive environments so that everyone can feel seen, heard and belonging.Julie is a professor at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, hosts a regular Forbes column on allyship, is a frequent keynote speaker, podcast host and TEDx speaker. She is also the creator of the Lead Like an Ally training program and the Founder of the annual International Allyship Day program in NYC.~Connect with Julie:Website: www.nextpivotpoint.com~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:https://www.kimmeninger.com/challengeLearn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroupJoin the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6Join the Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumansSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-sessionConnect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/Website:https://kimmeninger.com

Ash and Dusty discuss how ADHD traits (hyperfocus, justice sensitivity, rejection sensitivity, and perfectionism) shape the way people approach allyship. Ash opens with a vivid story about feeling unintentionally objectified at a conference after coming out as transgender, illustrating how well-meaning curiosity and requests for education can put emotional labor on the person with a marginalized identity. Dusty describes common ADHD patterns—the over-eager ally who wants to demonstrate knowledge, the panic after a misstep, and the tendency to seek drama online—and explains how those patterns can derail genuine support. Both emphasize that intention alone isn't enough: allies must match intent with respectful action. They offer practical guidance for managing capacity and making meaningful choices: focus on a few causes you can sustain, donate or volunteer locally, and pick moments where conversation can lead to real change instead of getting into futile online fights. Learn independently rather than relying on marginalized people to educate you; when interacting, meet people as people first and let them set the boundaries for how much their identity becomes the topic. Small, thoughtful actions (checking safety, providing accessible spaces, following diverse voices) often create outsized positive effects and are more valuable than performative gestures. Episode links + resources: Join the Community | Become a Patron Our Process: Understand, Own, Translate. About Asher and Dusty For more of the Translating ADHD podcast: Episode Transcripts: visit TranslatingADHD.com and click on the episode Follow us on Twitter: @TranslatingADHD Visit the Website: TranslatingADHD.com

Developing a strong talent pipeline is no longer just a good idea—it's a business imperative. But how can companies be more proactive and intentional about building the workforce of tomorrow? In this episode, we explore innovative strategies for proactive talent pipeline development. We'll discuss the importance of starting earlier to engage with potential talent long before they're looking for a job, and how to create relationships that last. We'll also break down what it means to be ready for Gen Z, a generation with unique expectations around purpose, flexibility, and communication. Finally, we'll talk about a surprisingly critical factor: sparking the conversation at home. We'll delve into the powerful role parents and guardians play in shaping career choices and how companies can better equip them to be allies in the talent journey. Tune in to learn how to shift from reactive hiring to proactive talent cultivation, building a more resilient and dynamic workforce for the future.

Building an impactful allyship program requires a strategic and thoughtful approach. This video breaks down the key steps to creating a program that goes beyond good intentions and drives real change within your organization. In this episode, I will guide you through the process, covering: Research: How to conduct a needs assessment to understand your organization's unique challenges and where to focus your efforts. Format: The different program structures you can use, from workshops and training modules to mentorship and sponsorship programs. Audience: How to identify and engage the right participants, and why it's crucial to create safe spaces for both allies and members of marginalized groups. Measurement: The key metrics to track to ensure your program is effective and creating a measurable impact on culture and employee well-being. Repeatability: The importance of a long-term strategy for embedding allyship into your company's DNA, so it becomes a sustainable part of your culture, not a one-off initiative. Whether you're an HR leader, a DEI professional, or an employee looking to champion change, this video provides a practical roadmap for building a successful allyship program that fosters a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

Join us for a powerful conversation about building a truly inclusive workplace. In this episode, we're moving beyond buzzwords to discuss the concrete policies and practices that make a difference. We'll dive into the vital role of inclusive caregiving leave policies and how they support all employees, not just parents. We'll also unpack what inclusive hiring practices really look like—from writing unbiased job descriptions to creating a fair and equitable interview process. Finally, we'll explore how to embed inclusion into your company's culture so it's not just a set of rules, but a living, breathing part of your organization's DNA. Tune in to learn how to create an environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

On Mission Matters, Adam Torres interviews Vada Manager, Founder & CEO of Manager Global Holdings, LLC, about his journey from corporate leadership at Nike and Levi's to entrepreneurship and board service. Vada shares insights on allyship, why board diversity matters, and how entrepreneurs can build resilience and create opportunities for future leaders. Big thanks to ⁠Take The Lead Women⁠! Follow Adam on Instagram at ⁠https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/⁠ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: ⁠https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/⁠ Visit our website: ⁠https://missionmatters.com/⁠ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to connect with others, and when it comes to allyship, it's essential. In this video, we're diving into the power of allyship storytelling and how sharing your own experiences can create a ripple effect of change. We'll explore why modeling the behavior you want to see is so important, and how showing vulnerability can build trust and open hearts. Discover how sharing your story, not as a hero but as a learner, can inspire others to begin their own journey of allyship. Throughout the video, we'll give you thought prompts to help you reflect on your own story and how you can share it effectively. Get ready to tap into the power of your own voice and become a more impactful ally. Allyship Storytelling Thought Prompts: What was a time you got it wrong and had to learn? What's a moment when you felt uncomfortable but chose to act as an ally anyway? Who are you committed to showing up for? What's a small step you can take today to be a better ally?

In this episode of the HR Mixtape, host Shari Simpson sits down with Dr. Steve Yacovelli, owner and principal of Top Dog Learning Group, LLC. They delve into the critical topic of authentic allyship in the workplace, contrasting it with performative gestures often seen in organizations. This conversation is particularly timely as companies face increasing pressure to foster inclusive leadership and diverse cultures, especially with the rise of Gen Z in the workforce. Dr. Yacovelli shares insights on how organizations can genuinely support LGBTQ+ employees and the importance of aligning corporate values with actions. Listener Takeaways: Learn how to identify and combat performative allyship in your organization. Discover why inclusive leadership is essential for employee experience and retention. Explore strategies for fostering a culture of accountability and respect in the workplace. Hit “Play” to gain valuable insights on creating a truly inclusive environment! Guest(s): Dr. Steve Yacovelli, Owner and Principal, Top Dog Learning Group, LLC

Oxford Dictionary defines ableism as: “discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.” And on today's episode, we're defining ableism with our own examples:When someone is shocked by our child's capabilitiesWhen someone is suprised by our strong connection to our childrenWhen someone volunteers for a disabilities organization believing they're a heroA lot of ableism is just actions and systems that we may have never questioned.. until being affected by disability. So what do we do when we experience ableism in our communities? Lets unpack it in this week's episode. SHOW NOTESFollow @open_future_learning on Instagram!Follow @ndss on Instagram!Follow @shaneburcaw on Instagram!Disability Euphemisms video from @blairimani Listen to 172. Defining Ableism, Allyship & Advocacy + Redefining "Inclusion" - ft. Dr. Priya LalvaniSPONSORS National Down Syndrome SocietyiCanShine ProgramsDown for GreensRods Heroes

LifeBlood: We talked about real and practical allyship, what the DEI movement got wrong, the wisdom in focusing on progress over perfection, the dangers and problems of hoarding power, owning one's mistakes and moving forward, the business case for inclusion, and why it's all about supporting one another, with Julie Kratz, Chief Engagement Officer, writer, and speaker.  Listen to learn about the future of allyship and inclusion! You can learn more about Julie at NextPivotPoint.com, Facebook,  Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.  Get your copy of We Want You HERE: https://amzn.to/4laSgaU  Thanks, as always for listening! If you got some value and enjoyed the show, please leave us a review here: ​​https://ratethispodcast.com/lifebloodpodcast You can learn more about us at LifeBlood.Live, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook or you'd like to be a guest on the show, contact us at contact@LifeBlood.Live.  Stay up to date by getting our monthly updates. Want to say “Thanks!” You can buy us a cup of coffee. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeblood Copyright LifeBlood 2025.

Alaska and Willam chat about their kiki with Kim Petras in Canada, NYC Drag Drama, and Spankie Jackzon's scepter for sale!? Plus discuss possible future casting options for ‘Oh, Mary!' and trying to remember the name of our 16th President. Plus they are joined by Roz Hernandez to talk about her comedy tour and how big the USA is. Get tickets to see Roz at www.RozHernandezTour.com Listen to Race Chaser Ad-Free on MOM Plus Follow us on IG at @racechaserpod and click the link in bio for a list of organizations you can donate to in support of Black Lives Matter Rainbow Spotlight:  Blouse by Golden Phantasy featuring Peter Breeze⁠ FOLLOW ALASKA https://twitter.com/Alaska5000 https://www.instagram.com/theonlyalaska5000 https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaThunder https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9vnKqhNky1BcWqXbDs0NAQ FOLLOW WILLAM https://twitter.com/willam https://www.instagram.com/willam https://www.facebook.com/willam https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrO9hj5VqGJufBlVJy-8D1g RACE CHASER IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alaska and Willam chat about their kiki with Kim Petras in Canada, NYC Drag Drama, and Spankie Jackzon's scepter for sale!? Plus discuss possible future casting options for ‘Oh, Mary!' and trying to remember the name of our 16th President. Plus they are joined by Roz Hernandez to talk about her comedy tour and how big the USA is. Get tickets to see Roz at www.RozHernandezTour.com Listen to Race Chaser Ad-Free on MOM Plus Follow us on IG at @racechaserpod and click the link in bio for a list of organizations you can donate to in support of Black Lives Matter Rainbow Spotlight:  Blouse by Golden Phantasy featuring Peter Breeze⁠ FOLLOW ALASKA https://twitter.com/Alaska5000 https://www.instagram.com/theonlyalaska5000 https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaThunder https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9vnKqhNky1BcWqXbDs0NAQ FOLLOW WILLAM https://twitter.com/willam https://www.instagram.com/willam https://www.facebook.com/willam https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrO9hj5VqGJufBlVJy-8D1g RACE CHASER IS A FOREVER DOG PODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Shanti and Antoinette lament the loss of lightning bugs. After listening to caller voicemails, we catch up on pop culture! We discuss the recent interview between T.S. Madison and Nene Leakes. Together, we explore what it means to be a true ally to the transgender community, while acknowledging the areas in which we have more work to do personally as we reflect on our own biases. We comment on Cardi B's new relationship with Stefan Diggs and share our favorite 'breakup upgrades". We remember Ananda Lewis, reflecting on her impact and legacy. Lastly, we conclude with updates on the Diddy trial. exploring the testimonies of various women, the psychological trauma that victims endure, and the addictive nature of abusive dynamics. Join us...Contact Us:Hotline: (215) 948-2780Email: aroundthewaycurls@gmail.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/aroundthewaycurls for exclusive videos & bonus episodesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.