Listening to podcasts covering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a great way to engage in the ongoing dialogue of the subject matter and learn from your peers. It can also help you stay educated and informed on trending topics in DEI today. Hosts can dissect complex topics in an organized manner or freely converse with guests about relevant issues, exchanging viewpoints and strategies.
Here we’ve highlighted some podcasts on diversity and inclusion that offer explainers, opinions, and frank conversations on DEI issues. The hosts are diversity professionals — some who own DEI consultancy firms or coach other DEI leaders — that conduct thought-provoking interviews with corporate leaders, experts, coaches, and entrepreneurs. These DEI podcasts cast a wide net in topics, but narrow in on helping DEI leaders shape a more equitable and inclusive workplace.
No matter where you are in the world, or how far along you are in your personal DEI journey, listening to these podcasts on diversity and inclusion can spark inspiration and offer new ideas and strategies, which you can apply to your own organizations. Click on the podcast titles below to jump down for more information about them.
- All Inclusive with Natasha Rainey
- Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox
- The Diversity Gap
- The Diversity Pivot
- Diverseek
- A Dog Called Diversity
- The Element of Inclusion
- The ERG Movement
- ERG PowerTalk
- Groundbreakers
- The Inclusive AF Podcast
- reWorked: The Workplace Inclusion Podcast
- Untapped
- What’s the DEIL?
- The Will To Change: Uncovering True Stories of Diversity & Inclusion
All Inclusive with Natasha Rainey
Hosted by Natasha Rainey, a working mother and founder of All Inclusive Media, this DEI podcast focuses on conversations with DEI leaders of global brands who share their experiences and expertise in DEI. It explores questions such as whether hybrid work life can foster an inclusive environment and how to attract and retain diverse talent. Some guest thought leaders have included Jessie Spellman, director of DEI at Walmart, and Sandra Quince, CEO of Paradigm for Parity. The conversations focus on how leaders can create inclusive cultures because strength lies in differences.
- Apple podcast rating: N/A
- Review bite: N/A
- Run time: 20-30 minutes
- 1st episode: “What DE&I Leaders aren’t talking about but should” – April 24, 2022
Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox
Jackie Ferguson — a certified diversity executive and cofounder of The Diversity Movement, a DEI consultancy — drives conversations with thought leaders and diversity experts in this weekly DEI podcast. Some of the content includes using inclusive marketing to go viral, getting funded and expanding your investment portfolio, a case study on Boeing’s culture shift, and underrepresentation in children’s books. One episode released during Black History Month touches on pastor Tony Lowden’s journey from his trap house upbringing to his White House job as former president Jimmy Carter’s pastor.
- Apple podcast rating: 4.3 stars
- Review bite: “If you aspire to be a more inclusive leader and have a more inclusive workplace, this podcast will provide you with a variety of applicable business insights that you can put action behind.”
- Run time: 30-60 minutes
- 1st episode: “Dee McDougal, SVP diversity and inclusion, Pacific Western Bank” – January 29, 2020
Senior Executive DEI Think Tank is a criteria-based membership community for chief diversity officers and senior-level DEI leaders at large organizations to share difference-making tactics, trade valuable resources, and seek the counsel of experienced peers in a private, confidential setting.
Do you qualify?The Diversity Gap
Hosted by Bethaney Wilkinson, author of “The Diversity Gap: Where Good Intentions Meet True Cultural Change,” this podcast is a collection of fresh conversations around DEI that aim to inform your decisions of what kind of inclusive culture you want to create at work. Known for “exploring the gap between our good intentions for diversity and the impact of those intentions,” it examines topics such as trauma-informed workspaces and mindful anti-racism. Wilkinson discusses strategies and best practices to implement DEI at work from a cultural and social perspective.
- Apple podcast rating: 4.5 stars
- Review bite: “I have learned so much from just listening to these episodes on diversity.”
- Run time: 25-50 minutes
- 1st episode: “Welcome to the Diversity Gap Academy” – December 30, 2019
The Diversity Pivot
Hosted by Julie Kratz, an inclusive leadership trainer and chief engagement officer at diversity consultancy Next Pivot Point, this DEI podcast examines personal experiences such as a Black man’s experience growing up in the south (episode 3) and “the hidden minority” of gay leadership (episode 11). It promotes inclusive leadership by interviewing diversity leaders such as Celeste Warren, vice president of the Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence at Merck, and Chris Jones, CEO and co-founder of Spectra Diversity, where they discuss using data in DEI storytelling.
- Apple podcast rating: 4.8 stars
- Review bite: “Julie is truly open to and active in dismantling racism and building belonging. She’s an expert in her field and can guide her guests well to bring out rich and subtle points.”
- Run time: 30 minutes
- 1st episode: “Why Corporate America Is Not Working for Women of Color” – November 22, 2020
Diverseek
Hosted by Jolene Mei, a thought leader, DEI council member, coach, and teacher, “Diverseek” is a podcast that dives into the programming side of DEI efforts, such as providing support for leaders and teams, equipping ERG leaders for sustainable success, and implementing a systemic approach in public education. She has interviewed diversity experts in the education field such as Cameron Poole — chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at the School District of Clayton — and Michael Nixon — the inaugural vice president for university culture and inclusion and chief diversity officer (CDO) at Andrews University.
- Apple podcast rating: 5 stars
- Review bite: N/A
- Run time: 25-40 minutes
- 1st episode: “Actions for Inclusive Leadership & Culture – Alexandria Ray (DEI Manager at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP)” – January 17, 2022
A Dog Called Diversity
Hosted by Lisa Mulligan — founder and director of The Culture Ministry, a DEI community development initiative, and The Culture Club, a networking group for DEI professionals — this DEI podcast celebrates empowering personal stories of overcoming diversity. Unlike the other podcasts, which are more directly related to the workspace, “A Dog Called Diversity” focuses on the more personal elements surrounding DEI. Some cultural stories that have been covered include growing up gay in Singapore and being a third-culture kid, a term for individuals who grew up abroad or in a different culture from their parents. Other business-oriented stories include building sustainable supply chains and progressing your DEI career.
- Apple podcast rating: 4.9 stars
- Review bite: “[The host] is always willing [to] share her own journey and learnings, it’s great she’s now providing a platform for so many more personal stories and experiences to be heard.”
- Run time: 45-60 minutes
- 1st episode: “A Boy Called Ulysses” – January 5, 2021
The Element of Inclusion
Host Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey is an expert on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, who works closely with FTSE 100 clients on DEI. In his podcast, he shares unfiltered but pragmatic and well-thought-out insights on DEI. His candid approach to DEI covers everything from the dirty secret of inclusion work (i.e. CDOs face budget cuts, are pushed to find a quick fix, and lack backing of senior leaders) to how status contests at work (such as diversity leaders who compete for recognition at the expense of others at the organization, including HR) undermine diversity and inclusion to the usefulness of chief diversity officers. He also reviews books (such as Acting White) and gives opinions on what he loves and doesn’t care for in DEI.
- Apple podcast rating: 4.8 stars
- Review bite: “Very practical, concise, research-based thought leadership dealing with workplace inclusion. Comprehensive and insightful, sometimes controversial. Dr. Jonathan has an engaging and energetic presentation style. He is UK-based but provides global insights. This podcast is a breath of fresh air.”
- Run time: 5-10 minutes
- 1st episode: “The Diversity & Inclusion Advice No One Will Give You” – May 23, 2017
The ERG Movement
Hosted by Maceo Owens — senior program manager of employee resource groups at KAYAK and OpenTable — this diversity podcast offers comprehensive educational explainers on DEI topics and how to apply them to your organization. It discusses things like the purpose of ERG groups, what makes an ERG group successful, and how to draft an ERG group and make a strong DEI mission statement. She also runs the website, The ERG Movement. Note this podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and on Youtube for video format.
- Apple podcast rating: 5.0 stars
- Review bite: N/A
- Run time: 1-30 minutes
- 1st episode: “What is The ERG Movement & The State of ERGs in 2023” – May 22, 2023
ERG PowerTalk
This podcast is provided by CDO PowerCircle, a membership-based group designed to accelerate DEI learning and strategy for CDOs, as a free service working toward the development of leaders at all levels of the DEI community around the world. Hosted by CDO PowerCircle chair, Joseph Santana, each episode is packed with actionable advice, tools, inspiration, and wisdom for you and your team to put to work right away. Podcast guests have included top thought leaders, CDOs, best-selling authors, and top-performing group leaders, including Andrew Behar — CEO of As You Sow, a nonprofit advocating for environmental and social corporate responsibility and author of The Shareholder Action Guide: How to Tell CEOs What to Do — and Jason R. Thompson, author of Diversity and Inclusion Matters: Tactics and Tools to Inspire Equity and Game-Changing Performance.
- Apple podcast rating: 5 stars
- Review bite: N/A
- Run time: 40-55 minutes
- 1st episode: “Breeders of Future Leaders” – July 29, 2019
Groundbreakers
Chely Wright may be widely known as a country music star, but did you know she’s also an experienced professional in the DEI space? Chief diversity officer at Unispace, a global workplace strategy, design, and construction firm, she also hosts her podcast, “Groundbreakers,” exploring transformations of work within the framework of DEI through conversations with the people pushing for those changes. From business leaders to performers, each groundbreaker Wright interviews provides insights on challenges with working DEI. She discusses more abstract ideas, such as leading with empathy and leaning into curiosity. Some guests have included Anna Issacson, the NFL’s senior VP of social responsibility who challenges stigmas in the NFL, and Elizabeth Tweedale, CEO of Cypher Coders, an organization focused on empowering kids in tech, who discusses the benefits of boys and girls working together.
- Apple podcast rating: 5 stars
- Review bite: “Promoting others comes naturally to Chely, and so does a beautiful voice and way of speaking, so hosting a podcast to do both of those, and on the topics of breaking boundaries of stuck-ness and non-diversity like construction and like country music, is all, all, completely in Chely’s Wheelhouse.”
- Run time: 1 hour
- 1st episode: “Shelly Brown (Aon): Sending the Elevator Back Down” – May 3, 2022
The Inclusive AF Podcast
This DEI podcast, hosted by Jackye Clayton and Katee Van Horn, two diversity and inclusion professionals who are also best friends, has a refreshing and innovative perspective on DEI. The conversations they have with various DEI leaders and equity strategists are often open and casual, like conversations among friends over dinner. The duo tackles tough topics in DEI in order to highlight important issues damaging certain communities and underrepresented groups, such as the lack of advancement opportunity. For example, in one episode, they talk to Andres Sigcha, a world traveler and native Ecuadorian, about the fight for workplace equity for the underrepresented. Other episodes include discussions on making data-enabled decisions around salary and DEI efforts, as well as implementing strategies to create sustainable organizational culture.
- Apple podcast rating: 5 stars
- Review bite: “Found this to be extraordinarily insightful. Whether you realize it or not, these conversations are taking place around you in your workplaces and neighborhoods all the time and it is so critical to take part in them. If you don’t know how or want to learn what a conversation around inclusivity and its impacts sounds like, give this a listen.”
- Run time: 1 hour
- 1st episode: “Why and What” – November 5, 2020
reWorked: The Workplace Inclusion Podcast
“reWorked” is a podcast on diversity and inclusion that focuses on the intersectionality of society, work, and culture. It sheds light on changes happening in society that are reflected in the workplace and offers advice on building safe and inclusive spaces by encouraging employees to have difficult conversations and speak up when necessary.
Hosts are members of the EW Group, a diversity consultancy based in the United Kingdom that aims to create inclusive cultures systematically and behaviorally. They’re selected for each episode, depending on their area of expertise within DEI, and speak with thought leaders in the space about how DEI in the workplace can evolve. Past guests have included Dante Frederick, diversity and inclusion partner at Govia Thameslink Railway, discussing DEI in the railway industry; David Latten, head of global indirect procurement and supplier diversity and equality at Logitech, about the importance of diversity in procurement; and psychologist Lateesha Osbourne, on Black students’ sense of identity in higher education.
- Apple podcast rating: N/A
- Review bite: N/A
- Run time: 20-60 minutes
- 1st episode: “Trust with Chris Paton” – January 30, 2018
Untapped
When host Tariq Meyers started this diversity podcast, he wanted to take a refreshing approach to talking about DEI. Meyers previously served as Coinbase’s first global head of belonging, inclusion, and employee experience. He was also head of inclusion and diversity at Lyft, where he led the initiative to adopt the company’s first gender inclusion and affirmation policy.
“Untapped” breaks down complex DEI topics through easy-to-understand stories and candid conversations with experienced diversity experts who have driven change leading major organizations. Past guests have included Travis Robinson, who was previously the global head of diversity, inclusion, and belonging at Spotify (featured on episode 12) and now leads DEI, people, and culture at The Walt Disney Company; and Albrey Brown (on episode 4), who led DEI at Airtable when the recording was released and is now the founder of Stealth. Some of the topics they discuss include the rise of people-first companies, how to use storytelling to advance DEI, and what not to do in DEI recruiting, including a checklist. The latest episode was released on December 27, 2022. Although no new episodes have been announced, there’s still a lot of value in the conversations held in this podcast.
- Apple podcast rating: 5 stars
- Review bite: “These are crucial and important conversations we need to be having in the workplace. Oftentimes DEI can be clouded with so much high-level jargon without touching the core of its impact — people. Untapped always gets to the root of the issues. Tariq is an amazing host and the guests share a bit of their own story and their visions for how to navigate this crucial space.”
- Run time: 30-55 mins
- 1st episode: “How Headspace is Walking the Walk with DE&I” – March 19, 2021
What’s the DEIL?
Hosted by Natalie Norfus, the managing owner at the DEI consultancy Norfus Firm, and Shanté Gordon, a strategist at the firm, this podcast explores how to support DEI leaders in their efforts to make their organizations more inclusive. In one episode of a series centering on allyship, where they discuss goals for employee engagement and retention for organizational leaders, the hosts define what allyship is and isn’t, as well as how to apply it in the workplace. Note this podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and on Youtube for video format.
- Apple podcast rating: 5.0
- Review bite: “Loved the first episode.”
- Run time: 15-20 mins
- 1st episode: “DEI is Dead” – October 25, 2022
The Will To Change: Uncovering True Stories of Diversity & Inclusion
This DEI podcast, hosted by DEI consultant Jennifer Brown, features discussions with leaders on topics such as cancel culture and coaching culture and the plus-size employee journey. A social equality advocate, Brown discusses trending topics in DEI on the podcast that are designed to encourage healthier workspaces. Some of these include what allyship should look like in 2023, how race and disability intersect, the challenges of leading a multigenerational workforce, and why ableism often goes unnoticed. She speaks to CDOs such as Shalynne Jackson, City of Oklahoma City’s chief inclusion and diversity officer; Nadia Nagamootoo, CEO of DEI consultancy Avenir; and sports psychology and culture coach Dr. Pippa Grange.
- Apple podcast rating: 4.8 stars
- Review bite: “What makes this show a true standout is the quality of the guests, stories, and advice. Jennifer finds speakers that truly care about being a positive force in the DEI space, and shares insights that only a true practitioner can unearth.”
- Run time: 20-60 minutes
- 1st episode: “The Tax on Being Different” – February 22, 2017
At Senior Executive DEI, we are constantly speaking with DEI leaders and looking for good examples of DEI resources. To recommend podcasts to add to this list, please contact Senior Executive Media at editor@seniorexecutive.com.
