The Diversity and Inclusion Playlist
What do you think the soundtrack would be for corporate America right now? Would it be protest music, melancholic songs or hopeful melodies? Maybe it’s a combination of all three ad infinitum?
How about we told you that the playlist America needs right now is not comprised of music but rather podcasts. While embracing the culture of how we learn today, educate ourselves, and consume content so instantly, the WB&B team has carefully curated the first ever Diversity & Inclusion Playlist.
The D&I Playlist is a series of podcasts that we are inspired by. From the minds of creatives that deserve not only your attention but your ear. Because office playlists should reflect our times, our voices, and our accents... even if workplace theme music is to be heard remotely. Check back weekly as we update our playlist to include new podcasts and episodes that are sparking conversations, asking pointed questions, and worth sharing with your network. Without further ado let’s get into it!
(TL;DR: Educational, Entertaining, Always Relevant)
Hosts: Shereen Marisol Meraji & Gene Demby
This NPR team of journalists explore race and culture stories in breaking news, while revisiting chapters in America’s complicated racial history. Code Switch is fascinated by the overlapping themes of race, ethnicity, and culture, how they play out in our lives and communities, and how all of this is shifting. This podcast has a catalog of episodes dating back to 2016.
Notable Episode
Books for Your Mind, Belly and Soul
Honorable Mention
On the Shoulders of Giants
(TL;DR: Diversity in Tech & Business, Thought-Provoking Topics)
Host: Sheana Ahlqvist
This podcast definitely takes the lead as far as theme songs go. Innovation For All features long form interviews with experts in tech, design, AI, and business. Episodes focus on far-reaching conversations about hard problems and big ideas at the intersection of innovation and social impact.
Notable Episode
Gig Work is Different for Undocumented Immigrants and Women w/ Julia Ticona
Honorable Mention
How Data Bias is Making Being a Woman More Dangerous w/ Caroline Criado Perez
(TL;DR: Practical Work Applications, Intentional, Insightful)
Host: Bethaney Wilkinson
Coming off the conclusion of The Diversity Gap’s second season, this podcast continues to explore the gap between good intentions and good impact as it relates to diversity, inclusion and equity. Bethaney asks great questions when navigating difficult topics with her guests. This podcast might actually have the cleanest website.
Notable Episode
How to Be the Change You Want to See at Work: A Conversation w/ Stephanie Ghoston
Honorable Mention
Mobilizing Diversity as a Resource to Your Company w/ Yai Vargas
(TL;DR: Diverse Trio, Fun, Open & Authentic Conversation)
Hosts: Mike Hess, Nina Baliga & UB Ciminieri
“What happens when a blind man, a woman of color, and a child of immigrants get together to discuss how diversity, equity and inclusion can impact businesses?” This question is posed at the start of each Choose Inclusion episode and it sets the tone for a podcast that is anything but cookie cutter. Additionally, this podcast has launched a new live stream segment in hopes of amplifying the voices of Black people from every walk of life, #BlackVoicesMatter.
Notable Episode
Your Lack of Diversity is Showing Now More Than Ever
Honorable Mention
Leadership & Allyship in a Time of Crisis and Beyond, Part 1 & 2
(TL;DR: Personal Stories, Unknown Start-Ups, Entrepreneurs, URMs)
Host: Dan Kihanya
This media project also doubles as an important podcast. Founders Unfound tells the stories of exceptional entrepreneurs and tech founders from underrepresented backgrounds – starting with founders of African descent. This podcast has also changed its normal format on occasion to be a roundtable for Black founders.
Notable Episodes
Black Women Founders: Real Talk on the Powerful Events of June 2020
Black Men Founders: Real Talk on the Powerful Events of June 2020
Honorable Mentions
Cherae Robinson, Tastemakers Africa
Marcus Bullock, Flikshop
(TL;DR: Insightful, Entertaining, Actionable)
Host: Good Byte Ventures’ Cheryl Chotrani
The tech world has a diversity problem: gender, racial, and ethnic, as well as sexual orientation, immigration status, and neurodiversity. To that end, this article provides a recent case study of the meritocracy myth in tech’s most prominent hotbed. Tech Forward interviews entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, media and tech leaders, and diversity advocates. The podcast also features stories of innovators and trailblazers from underrepresented groups.
Notable Episode
Supporting Underrepresented Talent Through Technology-Based Mentorship
(Key Takeaway: People that are mentored are 6x more likely to get promoted in the lifetime of their career!)
Honorable Mention
Leveling the Playing Field for Female Entrepreneurs
(TL;DR: Inspiring, Motivating, Practical, Relatable)
Host: Women Who’s Otegha Uwagba
This podcast makes our list because it is London-based and offers an entirely new perspective on a different corporate landscape. In Good Company is a podcast for working women full of practical advice, fresh ideas, and interviews with smart, successful women. These interviews are a great source of inspiration for your professional and working life.
Notable Episode
Elaine Welteroth. Harnessing Ambition. Navigating Office Politics.
Honorable Mention
Elizabeth Day. Learning to Say No. Dealing with Criticism
(TL;DR: DEI in Creative Industries, Tangible Solutions)
Hosts: Simeon Coker & Kai Deveraux Lawson
Plainly stated, this podcast is really cool and inventive. Mixed Company brings the siloed and uncomfortable conversations about D&I in the workplace to the forefront, so everyone can participate. They are true to their word and their tagline in promising to say all the things you never hear. This podcast focuses on the creative industry and draws on the experiences the two hosts have with their actual careers in advertising.
Notable Episode
Accountability Season (feat. Shante Bacon-Cius)
Honorable Mention
‘Stream of Consciousness’ Live from Mindshare
(Key Takeaway: This episode is a live conversation with Mindshare’s Black ERG, The Collective. Topics include allyship to reaching the C-suite.)
(TL;DR: New Perspectives, Cultural, Hilarity & Humility)
Hosts: Favy Fav & Babelito
Approaching the topics of identity, food, family, and history in a responsible yet humorous way, this show reflects the intersectionality between queer, Latinx, and Spanglish voices. Latinos Who Lunch is fun and worth listening to; some colorful language though, potential listeners forewarned!
Notable Episode
Organizing During COVID with Kenia Morales
Honorable Mention
Ponte Tu Mascara! (Put on Your Mask!)
(TL;DR: Compact Episodes, Articulate, Knowledgeable)
Host: Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey
This is our second London-based podcast (travel withdrawals are real!). These short-form episodes are easy to listen to. The Element of Inclusion is one of the world’s longest running podcasts about D&I. Each episode informs and educates using applied research and thought leadership.
Notable Episode
The Inclusive Power of 3 Little Words
(Key Takeaway: The importance of saying, “I don’t know.”)
Honorable Mention
The Lonely Life of a Diversity and Inclusion Leader
Updated July 31/20
(Image credits: ClearVoice)