There's No Such Thing as a Diversity Hire - Understanding the True Meaning of DEI

The Real Talk White Women Need to Hear About Race and Allyship

Ever wonder what women of color really think about white women's approach to DEI? Behavioral scientist and CEO Mitch Shepard joins Amelia for an unfiltered conversation that will make you squirm, laugh, and ultimately do better. After surveying women of color about what they wish white women understood, Mitch shares the responses that reveal uncomfortable truths about allyship, sisterhood, and the work that still needs to be done. From colorblindness myths to the exhaustion of being the only one, this episode delivers the real talk we need without the performance or purity tests. KEY TAKEAWAYS ·  White women experience both privilege and marginalization, creating a complex intersection that requires honest examination ·  True allyship means building authentic relationships where race can be openly discussed, not centering your own comfort ·  Women of color are not a monolith and don't need to be educators or take responsibility for every person who shares their race ·  Stop the performative behaviors: touching hair, relating through one black friend, or only connecting over stereotypical topics ·  Real change happens when white women sponsor and advocate for women of color in rooms where it matters most GUEST BIO Mitch Shepard is the CEO of Human and an applied behavioral scientist with over 25 years of experience advising world-class leaders. After leading wilderness expeditions and working in corporate boardrooms, a 12-month family trip around the world and a battle with cancer shifted her perspective on living inclusion out loud. She now leads transformative retreats for women of all backgrounds, focusing on building authentic community and lasting friendships across racial lines. LINKS & RESOURCES White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better by Regina Jackson and Cyra Rao They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South by Stephanie Jones-Rogers Women in the Workplace report by McKinsey and LeanIn.Org CONNECT WITH US Follow DEI AF: * Twitter: @deiafpodcast * Instagram: @deiafpodcast * TikTok: deiafpodcast * Youtube: @D.E.IAFPodcast ABOUT DEI AF DEI AF is a podcast that fosters honest and unfiltered conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hosted by veteran DEI leader Amelia Ransom, the show challenges conventional thinking, platforms diverse perspectives, and equips listeners with practical tools to make a tangible difference in their organizations and communities. DEI AF is where curiosity meets candor — rooted in truth, driven by facts, enriched by experience. New episodes release bi-weekly on all major podcast platforms.

Why Competition Is Making Us All Less Successful - with Ruchika Malhotra

Have you ever wondered why some women of color seem to get ahead while black women consistently face the worst workplace experiences? Award-winning author and inclusion strategist Ruchika Malhotra joins host Amelia Ransom for an unflinching conversation about privilege, competition, and what it really takes to build inclusive workplaces. Drawing from her book Inclusion on Purpose and her upcoming release NonCompete, Ruchika shares data-driven insights about workplace dynamics, the power of storytelling to build empathy, and why our hyper-competitive culture is actually holding us all back. This conversation tackles the uncomfortable truths about who benefits from current systems and offers practical frameworks for creating real change. KEY TAKEAWAYS ·  Anti-blackness is a global phenomenon that shows up consistently in workplace data across countries and cultures ·  Privilege and oppression can coexist — you can hold both simultaneously without contradiction ·  Competition often rewards conformity rather than excellence, keeping us stuck in limiting patterns ·  Psychological safety is essential for inclusion — people need to know they can take risks and still belong ·  The best way to build empathy and change minds is through storytelling, not data dumps GUEST BIO Ruchika Malhotra is an award-winning author, speaker, and inclusion strategist whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and Forbes. She is the author of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work and the forthcoming NonCompete, which challenges how competition and meritocracy work against equity. Born in North India, raised in Singapore, educated in London, and now based in the US, Ruchika brings a global perspective to understanding workplace dynamics and systemic change. LINKS & RESOURCES ·  Inclusion on Purpose by Ruchika Malhotra ·  Caste by Isabel Wilkerson ·  The Curb-Cut Effect research ·  Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil CONNECT WITH US Follow DEI AF:  * Twitter: @deiafpodcast * Instagram: @deiafpodcast * TikTok: deiafpodcast * Youtube: @D.E.IAFPodcast ABOUT DEI AF DEI AF is a podcast that fosters honest and unfiltered conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hosted by veteran DEI leader Amelia Ransom, the show challenges conventional thinking, platforms diverse perspectives, and equips listeners with practical tools to make a tangible difference in their organizations and communities. DEI AF is where curiosity meets candor — rooted in truth, driven by facts, enriched by experience. New episodes release bi-weekly on all major podcast platforms.

The Myths We Still Believe About DEI With Dr. Cheryl Ingram and Rebecca Steele

What myths about DEI are you still holding onto? In this powerful episode, Amelia sits down with two brilliant minds who approach equity from different angles: Dr. Cheryl Ingram, two-time PhD holder and filmmaker behind "The Goddamn Mess," and Rebecca Steele, strategist and author of "Indivisible." Together, they unpack what DEI got right, what it got devastatingly wrong, and what the future of this work actually looks like when the performance falls away. From why unhealed oppression isn't a qualification for DEI work to the critical difference between discomfort and being unsafe, this conversation doesn't just diagnose the problems — it charts a path forward. KEY TAKEAWAYS ·  DEI failed when we put people with opinions but not experience in critical roles ·  Discomfort is not the same as being unsafe — one leads to growth, the other requires protection ·  The oppression Olympics mentality has hurt the work more than helped it ·  Valid measurement systems and accountability structures are essential for sustainable change ·  Don't get so hung up on what to call the work that you stop doing the actual work GUEST BIO Dr. Cheryl Ingram is a two-time PhD holder, award-winning DEI strategist, and filmmaker who has spent over 20 years building change into workplaces and boardrooms. She's raised over $2 million to fund ventures and created the documentary "The Goddamn Mess" about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Rebecca Steele is a strategist, systems thinker, and author of "Indivisible" who has worked at the intersection of equity, sustainability, and human flourishing with everyone from global NGOs to indigenous communities. LINKS & RESOURCES ·  "The Untethered Soul" by Michael Singer ·  "Theory of Water" by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson ·  "Targeted Universalism" by John A. Powell ·  "The Sum of Us" by Heather McGee ·  "We Were Eight Years in Power" by Ta-Nehisi Coates ·  Work by Roosevelt Thomas ·  Quinta Roberson's research on detangling DEI language CONNECT WITH US Follow DEI AF:  * Twitter: @deiafpodcast * Instagram: @deiafpodcast * TikTok: deiafpodcast * Youtube: @D.E.IAFPodcast ABOUT DEI AF DEI AF is a podcast that fosters honest and unfiltered conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hosted by veteran DEI leader Amelia Ransom, the show challenges conventional thinking, platforms diverse perspectives, and equips listeners with practical tools to make a tangible difference in their organizations and communities. DEI AF is where curiosity meets candor — rooted in truth, driven by facts, enriched by experience. New episodes release bi-weekly on all major podcast platforms.

There's No Such Thing as a Diversity Hire - Understanding the True Meaning of DEI

Ever wonder why some people say we don't need DEI anymore? Effenus Henderson, the OG of DEI and former Chief Diversity Officer at Weyerhaeuser, breaks down why diversity, equity, and inclusion remain essential in 2025. From debunking the myth of "diversity hires" to explaining how DEI creates tangible business value, Henderson shares decades of wisdom on building truly inclusive organizations. This conversation covers the historical evolution from affirmative action to modern DEI strategies, addresses common misconceptions, and provides practical insights for leaders navigating today's complex landscape. KEY TAKEAWAYS ·  Diversity is about the collective and includes everyone in an organization, not just marginalized groups ·  DEI work is fundamentally about human capital management and creating environments where everyone can thrive ·  The backlash against DEI isn't new - we've seen cyclical pushback throughout history when marginalized groups gain influence ·  Effective DEI requires moving from activity-focused programs to outcome-focused strategies ·  Leadership accountability is essential - this work cannot be delegated solely to HR or Chief Diversity Officers ·  Employee resource groups are inclusive by design and serve as valuable feedback mechanisms for organizations ·  Good people contribute to problems through silence - speaking up in moments of bias or exclusion is crucial GUEST BIO Effenus Henderson is President and CEO of HE Works and co-founder of the Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion. He served as Chief Diversity Officer for Weyerhaeuser Company until his retirement in 2013 and is an internationally recognized diversity thought leader who has addressed the UN General Assembly and multinational companies worldwide. LINKS & RESOURCES Hudson Institute "War for Talent" report Intent and Impact communication model CONNECT WITH US Follow DEI AF:  * Twitter: @deiafpodcast * Instagram: @deiafpodcast * TikTok: deiafpodcast * Youtube: @D.E.IAFPodcast  ABOUT DEI AF DEI AF is a podcast that fosters honest and unfiltered conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hosted by veteran DEI leader Amelia Ransom, the show challenges conventional thinking, platforms diverse perspectives, and equips listeners with practical tools to make a tangible difference in their organizations and communities. DEI AF is where curiosity meets candor — rooted in truth, driven by facts, enriched by experience. New episodes release bi-weekly on all major podcast platforms.

The DEI Conversation Nobody's Having - Introducing DEI AF with Amelia Ransom

Ever wonder why 75% of white people don't have a single friend of color? Host Amelia Ransom launches DEI AF with executive producer Mark Wright in this inaugural episode that sets the stage for unfiltered conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Amelia shares why she kept trying to "break up" with DEI work but could never stay away, and why this podcast exists to teach people how to notice what needs to be done rather than simply follow a checklist. KEY TAKEAWAYS ·  DEI isn't about hope or absolution - it's about practical tools and ways to think differently ·  Organizations that treated DEI as strategic initiative won; those who used it as insurance policy lost ·  Building authentic cross-racial friendships requires proximity, vulnerability, and showing up consistently ·  The goal isn't individual solutions but collective freedom through shared responsibility ·  Real change happens when you can be upset about injustice even when it doesn't directly affect you CONNECT WITH US Follow DEI AF:  * Twitter: @deiafpodcast * Instagram: @deiafpodcast * TikTok: deiafpodcast * Youtube: @D.E.IAFPodcast ABOUT DEI AF DEI AF is a podcast that fosters honest and unfiltered conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hosted by veteran DEI leader Amelia Ransom, the show challenges conventional thinking, platforms diverse perspectives, and equips listeners with practical tools to make a tangible difference in their organizations and communities. DEI AF is where curiosity meets candor — rooted in truth, driven by facts, enriched by experience. New episodes release bi-weekly on all major podcast platforms.