The Jali, host Melyssa Barrett: Recent Episodes
Melyssa Barrett
Welcome to The Jali Podcast, I’m your host Melyssa Barrett. This podcast is for those who are interested in the conversation around diversity, inclusion and equity. Each week, I’ll be interviewing a guest who has something special to share or is actively part of building solutions in this space. Let's get started!
Certified Life Coach Kamini Woods talks about finding your purpose, the importance of self-care and how to eliminate self-sabotage and offers practices to help promote productivity that will improve your work-life balance.
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CEO of Major’s Financial Katrina Major shares how her company aids in filling in the DEI gap by providing resources and inclusive real estate best practices to aid underrepresented communities in achieving financial freedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Letitia Hanke shares her journey as a young entrepreneur to becoming CEO of her own roofing company, ARS Roofing, Gutters & Solar, and how combating adversity with self-love inspired her to start a non-profit organization, LIME Foundation, designed to encourage youths to explore career opportunities through vocational training, mentorship and community.
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On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled to end affirmative action in college admissions jeopardizing the fair opportunities of underrepresented groups. In this week’s episode, I’ll discuss alternatives to effectively challenge these setbacks through engagement and advocacy to integrate inclusive practices at the legislative level.
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Actress & Founder of Four Naturals Shalita Grant discusses the impact of on-screen cultural representation that influenced her journey into the entertainment industry and overcoming challenges that fueled her inspiration to develop an all-natural hair care line.
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To kick off our 100th episode, I am joined by Dr. James Vaughn to discuss the challenges within the educational system and how to remedy these struggles, offer advice on navigating teams through conflicts and implement DEI practices within the education system.
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Representatives from the NAACP Stockton Branch and CA/HI State Conference along with student interns from San Joaquin Delta College Josefina Gomez, Siena Geach, Tania Mora, Robert “Bobby” Bivens, Lajuana Bivens and Calvin Brice discuss the benefits of advocating for healthier food choices at the checkout lines, reasons to hold yourself accountable by modeling better nourishment alternatives habits and shares how the NAACP seeks to advocate for healthier grocery options in stores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Founder & CEO of Ara’s Education Consulting Dr. Wicondra Stovall discusses providing access to DEI support, strategy and resources to school districts in Sacramento, Ca.
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In this week’s episode, Melyssa explores the core principle of fun, discusses ways to nurture healthy work habits, shares tips to create balance in your work-life while remembering to find time to relax.
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Founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting, Aiko Bethea shares tips for organizations to break down DEI barriers in the workplace, discusses building competent leadership practices and how to engage in developing equity-focused leadership principles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With the rise of artificial intelligence impacting our everyday lives, I wanted to revisit my previous conversation with the co-founder of Deep Labs, Scott Edington, about AI's influence on inclusion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week’s episode, Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Kathy Gallowitz shares her experience serving in the United States Air Force, discusses the advancement of women in leadership roles within the military and offers advice to young women entering the service.
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In this week's podcast, I wanted to share a fantastic episode from The More Business More Life Podcast with Steve Napolitan, Jovanni Godina, Stephanie Vedder and myself, Melyssa Barrett, centered around permitting ourselves to choose our own experiences
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Hawanya Lima discusses the impact of mental health and how it affects our social interactions. Lima shares best practices to prioritize self-care, becoming more mindful of your stressors and how to effectively manage these triggers.
https://988lifeline.org/ Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Crisis Text Line (https://www.crisistextline.org/): Text Hello to 741741
YouthLine (https://oregonyouthline.org/about/) Text teen2teen to 839863, or call 1-877-968-8491
LGBTQIA+ community The Trevor Project (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/): 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678
Trans Lifeline (https://translifeline.org/hotline/): 1-877-565-8860
Counseling and More https://www.counselingandmore.org/ 209-640-4179 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jacob Davenport shares his journey embarking on a career in real estate to owning his business and mentoring the next generation of realtors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Executive Director Adamaka Ajaelo shares how her organization, Self-eSTEM, seeks to break systemic barriers faced by young women interested in STEM-related careers through mentorship, development programs and networking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Co-founder of Mission Art 415 Lisa Brewer shares how her gallery helped uplift her community while providing a platform for struggling artists around San Francisco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
James Smith, Imo-jah Desouza and David Bariu share challenges faced by Black veterans and how the group, Black Veterans of America, aims to raise awareness.
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President of the NAACP Stockton Branch, Robert “Bobby” Bivens discusses the organization's outstanding civil rights achievements and initiatives around San Joaquin County. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Melyssa Barrett highlights panel discussions presented by the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference event dedicated to addressing social justice issues affecting the Black community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Melyssa Barrett is joined again by Dr. Jessie Lammarre Andrè to discuss the implications of overturning Roe v. Wade and its global impact on sexuality and women’s health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Jessie Lamarre Andrè unpacks the importance of practicing cultural competence and how it influences sexuality, social work, physical and mental health care. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Vice President of Business Development at Photon Commerce, Dr. Angela Murphy discusses how the fintech company impacts the shift of payment technology, explains the benefits of real-time payments, and where consumers can be educated on this system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Authors of “Credit Repair Kit for Dummies (5th edition),” Steve Bucci, Melyssa Barrett and Rod Griffin discuss what inspired them to write the book, share tips to overcome challenges within the financial system and explain how consumers can improve their financial health. Many thanks to John Hope Bryant, Hope Now Foundation, for the foreword! Check out the book here! Credit Repair Kit for Dummies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
William Muetzenberg discusses running for city council in Tracy, CA and his plans to give back to the community and address issues such as the homeless crisis and resource accessibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Founder of Nature of Sound, Haasan Sabbagh discusses using creative art forms and community outreach as platforms to bring awareness to social issues such as human trafficking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode contains some highlights from interviews I have had with four awesome people: Monique Nelson, Rodeshia Ransom, ,Caltha Seymour, Dee Miller, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Melyssa honors Juneteenth by exploring its early history and legacy commemorating freedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Catrena Elliott discusses strategies and best practices, such as introspective leadership, to help others be their best selves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sandra Hunter discusses launching her business, Wild Women Leaders of Color, and forming mentorship programs like Stealth Aunties Network designed to advance DEI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Melyssa takes a moment of pause to reflect on the recent tragedies occurring nationwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sheryl Brinkley discusses navigating through career path pivots, shares tips on how to take ownership of your own path, and offers advice for becoming a better leader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Gregory Fobbs Jr. discusses the benefits of building strong work relationships, shares his best practices for responding to microaggressions, and managing career success in technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week’s episode, Melyssa explores the value of the fifth Kwanzaa principle, Nia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
CEO of Teneral Cellars, Jill Osur discusses how her company uses intentional actions to disrupt old systems and support the rise of women in the wine industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The co-founders of Old Hillside Bourbon Company share their motivation to start a business in the spirits industry and how their brand pays homage to history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Founder and Director of Community Partnerships and Wine Experiences at Teneral Cellars, OT Mosley-Bremond discusses how the company uses wine to create a safe space for open conversations and engage in social impact initiatives Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Randy Ramiro discusses promoting DEI within the alcohol industry, explains the inspiration to start his own company, Infanta, and how his brand inspires the next generation of distillers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Eric Goldman discusses facilitating and coaching leadership teams to improve their traction, shares 3 key elements to building a successful team, and explains the benefits of embracing company core values. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Denise Gomez discusses confronting implicit biases, embarking on the path of self-reinvention, and the effects of toxic culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chuck Lockard, John Short and Marco T. Lindsey discuss DEI recruiting best practices and explain how companies can approach this initiative to create an inclusive hiring process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Coach and Author of Un-Civil-ized, Greg Brinkley explains how personality profiling impacts workplace productivity, how a toxic work culture can influence the mindset of employees, and why presenting your authentic self can shift these effects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Founder of Good Worx, Kristyn Nimmo joins the show to discuss engaging with partners to promote social impact initiatives, using rebranding campaigns as an opportunity to educate the community, and explains how organizational shifts affect business strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kathy Kimotek discusses the importance of intentionality when leveraging Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Kimotek shares best practices and marketing tips to encourage representation amongst the workplace and consumers, and unpacks the responsibility companies have to remain accountable when promoting DEI.
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Shari Foos joins the show to discuss the practice of relational awareness and how it is used in DEI. Foos explains why our ability to create meaningful connections correlates to our willingness to broaden our mind and how these connections can be used to combat microaggressions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Habari gani! Melyssa Barrett is joined by a panel of practitioners, Chris Brinkley, James & Patricia Daily, Cynthia Mundy and Ronald “Peter” McConico, to share their experiences observing Kwanzaa. Each explains their personal journeys that encouraged them to take part in the celebration and discuss their favorite Kwanzaa traditions and lessons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Linda Perry, Diane Faro and Holli Targan discuss their mission to create Wnet and how this organization is designed to empower women in the payments industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jacalyn Davis explains her work as coordinator of equality and access and how her position impacts DEI within the Manteca, CA community.
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Trinita Carlton explains how to embrace inclusive culture when approaching product management. Carlton discusses strategic practices to enhance our ability to become agile when navigating inclusion in the workplace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Head of Global Reflection at UniWorld Group, Douglas Freeman explains how companies can transform their DEI practice. Freeman offers his advice on leveraging DEI business plans and methods used to disrupt traditional decision-making. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Co-authors of “Speaking in Colors,” Vernita and Nikita Nikol Naylor explore the benefits of knowing your color frequency and advantages to learning various exercises for balancing these energies. Together, they explain how this englightning movement serves as a guide to how we communicate with one another and the effects that these color traits have when emitted into the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
David C. Williams joins the podcast to discuss his innovative solution that helped lead AT&T employees through the Covid-19 pandemic and shares his involvement in organizing programs that support DEI outreach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week’s episode, Melyssa Barrett is interviewed by Becky Parker Geist, host of “Audio Book Connection-Behind the Scenes with the Creative Teams,” to discuss her inspiration to create The Jali Podcast and how the show has become a platform for sharing and highlighting social impacts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Influenced by her experience growing up in Chicago, Florise Nevel-Ewell uses her professional and personal passion by educating young lawyers, youths, and adults about building wealth through housing literacy. Her work spans across educational platforms connecting corporate initiatives, non-profit advocacy, and social impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Urvi Bhandari is the Co-founder of Peppercorn.ai, and an innovative career coach who supports each candidate on their career journey. She explains how to remove the stereotypical “cookie cutter” resume model in the recruiting and retention process using self-awareness to blossom within each job seeker to match their passions with their next career move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Americas at BNY Mellon, Patty Dingle shares her role providing support and visibility to underrepresented groups. The conversation highlights celebrating the “little wins” while engaging in DEI, reducing prejudices in the context of identity and remembering to lead with empathy in order to effectively integrate diversity globally. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The founder of Bluford Consulting, Tanya Bluford shares strategic steps for undoing racial prejudices and how to heal from the impact of systemic racism. She also shares her opinion on where DEI should start within a company and why maintaining open communication assists the cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week’s episode, Melyssa shares the practice of navigating our neurological levels in order to broaden our perspective of racial and cultural identification. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Melyssa shares a panel discussion on diversity and inclusion hosted by the Co-CEO of Compliance Line, Giovanni Gallo. The panel of experts, Melyssa Barrett, Dr. Gail Burgos and Solomon Carter, have a conversation about creating a safe environment and improving employee engagement within the workspace. The panel shares methods and answers questions on how to commit to change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Author, inclusion architect, founder and chief office for Cordero Davis International LLC, Cordero Davis joins the podcast to discuss his journey to launch his own consulting firm, explains how his firm assists various under-represented groups with finding careers in corporate America, and how he assists top tech companies with creating an inclusive workspace for their employees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rochelle Holoman is a program manager with the Diversity & Inclusion team at Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation's largest electric utilities and a Fortune 250 company. She is responsible for leading the company's 12 Business Resource Groups (BRGs). Rochelle joins the podcast to discuss why her company uses the term Business Resource Group rather than Employee Resource Group, shares how the BRGs conduct community outreach programs to bring about awareness, and explains how to modify our structural barriers and biases to remedy challenges in the workplace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aerospace engineer and author, Mukuka Chipanta joins the podcast to discuss the beneficial effects diversity has on the field of aerospace engineering, reveals the significance of his novels and their connection to Zambia, and explains what we can learn by embodying the “Zambian Voice.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Associate Professor and Director of Faculty Diversity and Retention at Old Dominion University, Dr. Narketta Sparkman-Key joins the podcast to discuss her position as she promotes diversity and inclusion amongst academic personnel. She explains the importance of faculty retention, methods used to confront biases within the departments, and shares what motivated her to create a podcast centered around the issues that impact the Black Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Helen Turnbull talks about immutable and permeable forces, how to manage our biases, explains how unconscious competence leads to genuine inclusivity, and discusses the “imposter syndrome” and its effect on internalized oppression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chairing of the department of History and Social Justice Studies at San Joaquin Delta College, Evan Wade joins the podcast to share what it is like to teach social justice in a classroom during today’s social climate, discusses institutional racism and the student movements that followed in response, and explains the steps needed to take when striving to achieve inclusivity within education and business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week’s epsiode, join Melyssa as she discusses what it means to live by Umoja(Unity). She explains how this principle can be practiced to promote unity in your personal and professional lives, and how its message reconnects with Pan-African roots. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Dee Miller joins the podcast to discuss inclusivity in product design. Dr. Miller explains why empathy is one of the biggest challenges when it comes to inclusive design and the approach taken to overcome, shares strategies to uncover unconscious biases, and what users should keep in mind when it comes to consumer biases. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Happy Black History Month! This week’s episode highlights the second principle of Kwanzaa, Kujichagulia. Melyssa discusses the importance of this principle and its influence on defining yourself, explains how Kujichagulia can be practiced every day, and how to begin to observe its message. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Akita Somani explains the “culture” within the financial services and payments career, shares how companies in London have reformed to create a more inclusive atmosphere, explains integrated inclusive practices that businesses can use, and discusses how virtual accommodations, due to the global pandemic, have impacted the outreach of diversity and inclusion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jill Long explains why she decided to pursue a career in diversity and inclusion in addition to her career as a lawyer, gives examples of best practices that organizations can exercise to create real systematic changes, explains why people of all backgrounds can be a part of the solution and how to go about getting involved, and discusses what the future may hold for the profession of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Continuing on the topic of Kwanzaa, Melyssa explains why she enjoys this holiday celebration, shares which one of the seven principles she currently feels more connected to, and describes how each principle can be practiced to better our lives this New Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week's episode Melyssa talks about the celebration of Kwanzaa! Highlighting on the history of the holiday, explains the celebration’s connection to African roots, and describes its seven valued principles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
National channel manager for Eaton Corporation, Caltha Seymour explains why Eaton is committed to act as a model for diversity and inclusion, how her role at Eaton supports the company’s mission, and gives examples of different best practices that are used to ensure Eaton’s inclusive culture remains for generations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Author of the children’s book series Just Imagine… What if There Were No Black People in the World, Tamara Shiloh talks about using storytelling to educate young people on Black history, how her works are designed to encourage and inspire Black children, and owning a children's bookstore that feature cultural inclusive titles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
American University professor, Dr. Omekongo Dibinga shares what motivated him to get involved with diversity, equity and inclusion and how he uses his talents to contribute toward the cause, explains the difference between being an ally and a partner, and defines the word “Upstander” while explaining why its meaning inspired his company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Happy Thanksgiving! Our host Melyssa Barrett shares techniques that listeners can use around our own dinner table, or for many this year the virtual table, to better communicate with members of our own family this holiday season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Founder of Keystone Gifts, Liz Tsuji shares the challenges she faced as a minority woman business owner, offers advice on how corporations can diversify their suppliers, and how small businesses can influence diversity and inclusion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
CEO and cofounder of Deep Labs, Scott Edington explains artificial intelligence, its impacts related to the consumer experience, and how this technology is used to enhance inclusion.
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Mother-Daughter duo, Yvette & Aria Washington join the podcast to discuss why the conversation of diversity and inclusion should start at home, Aria’s experience studying abroad and adopting a foreign culture, and Yvette tells her story about having a career as a Black female police detective in one of the most segregated cities in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cynthia Mundy joins the show to talk about her experiences with celebrating Kwanzaa and how the tradition’s principles can be applied to everyday life, she shares her journey uncovering her family history by tracing their African roots, and discusses how it felt to star in a theatrical production that portrays the Black History of Tracy, CA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
CEO and chairwoman of Uniworld Group Inc., Monique Nelson shares her career trajectory starting out as a “throwaway” marketing saleswoman to owning a marketing agency, offers strategies on how companies can engage in the conversation of minority inclusion and explains the necessity of having a safe space for open dialogue within business groups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Author, Teaching Artist, Poet and “Imagination Activist,” Glenis Redmond talks about connecting with her “Authentic self,” how following your passion can create social change, explains the Afro-Carolinian history, creating a safe space for her students to find their “truest selves,” and shares her unexpected opportunity to meet with First Lady Michelle Obama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Executive director of Sow A Seed Community Foundation and city council member of Tracy, California, Rhodesia Ransom joins the podcast as our guest to share how she assisted in implementing leadership training, educational programs, and city policies to advance social equity within the community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to the Jali Podcast, I’m your host Meylssa Barrett. This podcast is for those who are interested in the conversation around diversity, inclusion and equity. Each week, I’ll be interviewing a guest who has something special to share or is actively part of building solutions in this space. Let's get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices