This episode is a bit of a departure from our usual lineup, and we think it’s exactly what many of us are craving right now. We’re joined by intuitive guide and founder of Soul-Speak, Cindy Aaker, who shares her deeply personal spiritual journey, from waking visions and archangel encounters to discovering the Akashic Records and connecting with guides beyond this realm. Recorded in the midst of global uncertainty and collective exhaustion, this conversation is an offering of meaning, stillness, and hope. Whether you’re spiritual, skeptical, or somewhere in between, Cindy’s story invites us all to pause, reflect, and consider what might be possible when we tune in to something deeper.

We’re already planning part two! There's so much to cover and we barely scratched the surface. Stay tuned!

Chapters

(0:00:07) - Finding Hope in Uncharted Territories

(0:07:20) - Exploring Spiritual Paths and Beliefs

(0:16:15) - Exploring the Akashic Records

(0:20:42) - Awakening Through Spiritual Exploration

(0:29:01) - Connecting With Archangels and Spiritual Awakening

(0:36:36) - Exploring Personal Spiritual Connections

(0:46:19) - Birthing a New Way of Being

(0:52:46) - Visions of Supportive Symbols

(0:57:50) - Embracing Joy and Kindness Through Adversity

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

In this episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Aparna Rae—educator, entrepreneur, writer, and disruptor—who brings clarity, honesty, and depth to our conversation about equity, data, and the future of work. We get into the real talk around corporate DEI, why so many initiatives fall flat, and how data can actually help drive meaningful change when used well (and not just to check a box). Aparna shares insights on how to survive this current moment—marked by authoritarian creep, economic anxiety, and corporate gaslighting—while still building dignity, safety, and care into the workplace.

We talk about Costco, AI, bullshit jobs, and how solidarity (not hustle) will get us through. Bring your notebook and maybe a stiff drink if that’s your thing—this one goes deep.

Chapters

0:00 – Welcome + Introducing Aparna Rae

1:22 – Aparna’s origin story: from archaeology to pedagogy

3:23 – The pedagogy of work and the role of data

7:40 – Pushback from clients and lessons from failed engagements

8:31 – What data-informed equity really means

12:15 – Do workshops matter? And the difference between tools and the work

14:15 – The current state of DEI: death, evolution, or reckoning?

17:27 – Acting with integrity in authoritarian times

20:58 – Who’s doing it well? Valuing labor and leadership alignment

23:23 – Costco, Patagonia, and building for sustainability

27:03 – The backlash to the Great Resignation

29:05 – Workplace culture as democracy’s front line

32:15 – AI, capitalism, and human value

39:25 – When DEI went wrong: Aparna’s viral Forbes piece

44:52 – Power dynamics, shame, and where we go from here

45:34 – Trends for 2025: solidarity, safety, and protecting trans lives

49:07 – Escaping hustle culture and dreaming of a different way

50:27 – What’s next for Aparna Rae

51:42 – Where to find her (spoiler: not TikTok)

53:34 – Wrap up + outro

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

In this powerful and important episode, we sit down with Mary Rose Mazzola—attorney, public policy powerhouse, and Chief External Affairs Officer at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts—to unpack what it means to fight for reproductive justice in an increasingly chaotic world. MaryRose shares how her personal experiences shaped her advocacy, the strategic decisions her team is making post-Dobbs, and the unique role Massachusetts plays as a safe haven and leader in this fight.

We also get real about burnout, power, the role of companies in this work, and the big existential questions many of us are asking right now: What is work? What is care? And how do we keep going when the wins feel scarce?

00:00 – Welcome & Gallup Workplace Report Hot Takes

07:45 – AI, Labor, and the Existential Work Crisis

14:30 – Introducing Mary Rose Mazzola

16:00 – Mary Rose’s Journey into Advocacy

18:30 – Reproductive Rights Strategy in a Post-Dobbs World

21:30 – The Power of Doing Your Work (and Not Everyone Else’s)

27:00 – The Reality of Access, Risk, and Abortion Bans

34:30 – What Employers Can Actually Do

39:00 – Inside State-Level Policy Change (and Why It Takes Forever)

42:00 – Coalition Work, Priorities, and Strategic Yes/No

45:00 – Centering LGBTQ+ and Racial Justice in Repro Work

50:00 – What You Can Do (Yes, You!)

54:00 – Holding On to Hope + Joy (Including Dogs and Babies!)

56:00 – Closeout

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

What happens when a movement built on innovation starts to eat itself? In this episode, we’re joined by Catherine Bracy—CEO of TechEquity Collaborative and author of World Eaters—for a bold, unflinching conversation on the state of tech, venture capital, AI, and what it really means to build an equitable future.

We get into:

• How blitzscaling became a blueprint for burnout
• Why “disruption” often means sidelining equity
• What it takes to re-center people in an industry built for profit

We also dig into the pressures of chasing VC money, the cost of tech’s villain era, and how automation is reshaping labor—often without worker protection in mind. Catherine brings the receipts and the vision. If you care about inclusion, the future of work, or just want a little more honesty in your tech podcasts, this one’s for you.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Felicia and Rachel Intro
Workplace inclusion meets AI and ethics. Reflecting on 10 years of Inclusion Geeks—and why this convo couldn’t come at a better time.

12:25 – Progress or Plateau? A Decade of Tech Equity
Catherine reflects on founding TechEquity Collaborative and whether the industry’s progress has lived up to the promise.

18:38 – Disruption: Buzzword or Barrier?
We question who really benefits from “disruption” and how venture-backed growth often sidelines human-centered practices.

29:52 – VC or Bust? Rethinking Startup Success
Why the pressure to raise VC has become toxic—and what alternative paths to success can look like.

36:18 – Blitzscaling and the Cost of Speed
The culture of growth-at-all-costs, the real meaning behind “blitzscaling,” and how it erodes sustainability and dignity.

41:14 – Silicon Valley’s Villain Era
We unpack tech’s political shift, culture wars, and the industry’s growing identity crisis.

50:28 – Automation and the New Labor Divide
How AI is reshaping the workforce—and what it means for those with (and without) agency over technology.

58:33 – What We Build Next
Imagining a tech future grounded in equity, creativity, and human dignity. Catherine shares what gives her hope.

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

Amber Cabral, a celebrated leadership strategist and author, joins us to share her insights on the art of "humaning well" in both the workplace and in life. Amber guides us on how to maintain the delicate balance between supporting others and ensuring our own well-being. She challenges the traditional nine-to-five grind, advocating for alternative ways of working that align better with personal productivity and mental health. Her personal journey through grief after the loss of her father provides profound lessons on self-care and living authentically, encouraging us to embrace our emotions and grow in the areas where we feel most vulnerable.

Our exploration with Amber extends into the intricate world of equity work, highlighting the emotional labor it demands and the pitfalls of guilt and performative allyship. By introducing the concept of "humaning," Amber emphasizes the importance of prioritizing our own needs and relationships before extending support to others. Put your oxygen mask on first! We critically examine performative actions and the necessity for genuine engagement, advocating for authenticity and self-care in sustaining meaningful equity work. Amber's perspective urges us to redefine health, wealth, relationships, and growth as the core pillars of resilience and authentic living.

Our discussion also navigates the complex interplay of privilege, responsibility, and emotional processing. From personal anecdotes about navigating privilege during a crisis to understanding diverse emotional responses in grief, we dive into the challenges of maintaining a full "cup" to effectively handle life's unexpected turns. We stress the importance of setting boundaries amidst the pressures of modern life, particularly in the digital age where constant information can be overwhelming. Join us for this enriching conversation filled with warmth, wisdom, and practical strategies for living and working with authenticity and resilience.

LINKS

• Amber Cabral's website
• Humaning Well
• Rest Revolution Book

EPISODE CHAPTERS

(0:00:07) - Felicia and Rachel Chat

(0:13:34) - Welcome, Amber!

(0:24:08) - Embracing Humaning for Equity

(0:31:56) - The Labor of Equity Work

(0:37:17) - Navigating Privilege and Responsibility

(0:41:25) - The Four Pillars of Humaning

(0:47:28) - Exploring Emotional Processing and Grief

(1:00:28) - Navigating Boundaries and Self-Care

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

And we’re back! In our first episode of 2025, we dig into the state of DEI—what’s shifting, what’s under attack, and how some companies, like Costco and McKinsey, are staying the course while others retreat. We’ll break down the misconceptions fueling resistance and share ways to keep inclusion at the core of workplace culture, even when legal and political pressures make it challenging.

We’re also talking about how to stay informed without getting overwhelmed. In a time when news cycles feel nonstop, we’ll share strategies for curating reliable sources, consuming information mindfully, and staying engaged without burnout. Because clarity and community are more powerful than fear and division.

Join us at Inclusion Geeks as we keep pushing the conversation forward. Subscribe to our newsletter and podcast, check out our past episodes, and connect with us on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Blue Sky, and Threads. Your voice matters—let’s build a more inclusive future, one real conversation at a time!

Chapters:

(0:00:07) - Intro to Navigating DEI Challenges in 2025

(0:12:26) - Managing News Overload and Community Building

(0:23:41) - Strategies for Ongoing Inclusion at Work

(0:34:34) - Understanding Othering and Class

(0:41:21) - Stay Connected With Inclusion Geeks

Links:

Art

• Ursula K. Le Guin- The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas (short story)
• Valerie Kaur: Watch Night Speech: Breathe and Push

Newsletters

• Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American
• Caroline Criado Perez, Invisible Women
• Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist
• Dr. Jen Gunter, The Vajenda
• Dr. Zachary Rubin, FDA Recall Roundup
• LIL Science

News sources

• Teen Vogue
• WIRED
• Rolling Stone
• Jezebel
• The Guardian
• The 19th
• Ground.News

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

Felicia and Rachel chat with Mica Le John, the Chief of Staff at Black Girls Code. We dove into her super interesting career journey and explored her passion for digital spaces, meaningful partnerships, and support for young people - they’re the future! Speaking of the future, we also discussed the future of the tech industry, workplace inclusion, mental health, and so much more. Mica shared insights into her work at Black Girls Code, the need for equity in the tech industry, the impact of social media, and the role of millennials and Gen Z in shaping digital spaces. Let’s go!

Links:

• For Them
• Idoru
• Black Girls Code
• Kim Stanley Robinson

00:00 Intro

00:57 Election Day Reflections and Team Policies

02:08 The Importance of Mental Health and Productivity

04:54 Newsletter Announcement and Welcoming Mica

05:58 Mica's Journey: From Child Actor to Chief of Staff

12:31 The Role and Impact of Black Girls Code

14:17 Challenges and Opportunities in Tech Diversity

24:07 Humanist Technologist: Balancing Tech and Humanity

27:25 Nostalgic Dive into the 'Uglies' Series

28:05 Books vs. Movies: A Lifelong Debate

29:39 Entrepreneurial Insights and Challenges

30:03 Ideal Life and Personal Reflections

34:04 Future of the Digital Space

36:01 Generational Perspectives on Technology

46:51 Climate Advocacy and Personal Goals

50:35 Geeking Out: Plants and Speculative Fiction

52:07 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.