Then, Now & Tomorrow

How do we give feedback that actually lands, and how do we stay human in the process? In this second installment of our three-part series, clinical psychologist and anti-racism leader Dr. Roxy Manning and relational neuroscience expert Sarah Peyton return to explore the layered realities of communication at work. Alongside neurobiology and workplace culture expert Rajkumari Neogy, they unpack what it really means to listen...

“How do we build trust when the ground is already shaking?” asks clinical psychologist and anti-racism leader Dr. Roxy Manning. Alongside relational neuroscience expert Sarah Peyton, Roxy challenges how most workplaces handle grief, trauma, and disruption—especially during layoffs. Together with Rajkumari Neogy, they explore what it really takes to lead with emotional integrity in moments of rupture.

In this first part of t...

"Equality will not free us," says Marcie Bianco, author of Breaking Free: The Lie of Equality and the Feminist Fight for Freedom. But if equality isn’t the goal, what is? And what does true liberation actually look like?

In this episode, Marcie joins neurobiology expert Rajkumari Neogy to unpack the limits of equality as a political ideal and the systems that uphold it. Together, they explore why equality has historically s...

"Conflict is always a bid for connection," says Meenadchi, a communication and wellness consultant, somatic practitioner, and author of Decolonizing Nonviolent Communication. But what happens when relationships are coded as unsafe? What if our nervous systems see relationality as a threat?

In this episode, Meenadchi joins neurobiology expert Rajkumari Neogy to explore the art of rupture and repair in relationships, offering...

“Power makes us dumber,” says Aubrey Blanche-Sarellano, VP of Equitable Operations at Culture Amp and an advocate for building equitable workplaces. “When we gain power, our empathy goes down, our ability to read rooms goes down.” Drawing from her lived experience as a white-assumed, mixed-race, queer, and disabled leader, Aubrey unpacks how personal growth, accountability, and strategic equity initiatives—like rethink...

How does modern slavery intersect with the workplace, and what role can leaders play in supporting survivors? Human trafficking isn’t just a global issue—it’s happening here in the United States, with nearly 1 million people living in conditions of exploitation.

"Leaders need to have a culture where trauma is accepted and understood," says Wendy Fong, founder of Chief Gigs, a talent and strategy advisory firm dedicated ...

How do cycles of helplessness shape our relationships and workplaces? Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) isn’t just about physical harm—it’s a complex set of behaviors designed to gain power and control.

"Helplessness is the ultimate lack of power or control," explains Dr. Inge Hansen, a clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience, whose groundbreaking research focuses on IPV and its ripple effects in personal and p...

For Aida Mariam Davis, the opposite of colonization isn’t decolonization—it’s creation. As the Chief People Officer of the Sierra Club, founder of Decolonize Design, and author of the new book Kindred Creation: Parables and Paradigms for Freedom, Aida brings profound insights on how Black and Indigenous wisdom can guide us toward building systems rooted in dignity, justice, and joy.

In this episode, Aida sits down w...

What does it really mean to face systemic racism with both fierce determination and self-compassion? Neuroscience educator Sarah Peyton is back to share how this powerful mix of anti-racism and self-kindness can break down deep-rooted biases and heal generational trauma. Together with clinical psychologist Dr. Roxy Manning, Sarah co-authored The Anti-Racist Heart, a guide that shows how self-compassion can strengthen our a...

When was the last time you paid attention to your body language in a meeting? We often focus so much on what we say that we overlook the signals we send every moment.

“The most powerful theater is when the actors aren’t actually talking,” says Shoshana Simons, a drama therapist by training and former Chair of the Expressive Arts Therapy program at California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). With two decades of expe...

Mental health disparities continue to affect communities of color, but how can we create spaces for healing and acknowledgment?

"You learn to suppress, and every time you feel, you struggle with how to be in that feeling," says Giorgio Chatelain, a psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience. As a social worker, Giorgio has dedicated his career to supporting the mental health of immigrants and people of color, addressi...

In a world where workplace dynamics often prioritize efficiency over emotional connection, could love be the missing element that transforms professional relationships?

“The way you do one relationship is how you do all relationships—from the bedroom to the boardroom,” says relationship expert Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh. Her book, "Love by Design: 6 Ingredients to Build a Lifetime of Love," provides a pathway for couples to deepe...

"The body is our doorway to greater wisdom, compassion, and growing a presence that is trustworthy and life-affirming," says Staci K. Haines, an innovator in the Somatics field for over 30 years.

Staci believes that Somatics addresses our deep human yearning for wholeness, connection, and belonging by guiding us back to our bodies. This embodied transformation is not just a concept but a practical approach that helps us rec...

As a leader, it’s tempting to feel like you need to have all the answers. Being a great problem solver helped you get to where you are, but once you start leading a team, you need to evolve into someone who enables problem-solving. “Performance is a team sport, not a solo act,” says Jon Low, a performance coach and tactical advisor to early-stage founders.

In helping leaders tackle various challenges in growing their busine...

Can we really challenge racism with both fierceness and compassion? Can we confront discriminatory actions head-on without shaming others, and interrupt hate in ways that foster genuine change? Using Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Beloved Community framework, activists are finding new ways to create equity through bold yet empathetic dialogue against systemic white supremacy. Dr. Roxy Manning believes this balance is not onl...

“Even a momentary lack of love and safety as children can follow us for the rest of our lives,” says Rainbow Markell, an early childhood education expert. Since her start in the field in the 1970s, she has been part of some of the most forward-thinking programs that put the idea of “trauma-informed care” on the map. How do you help children identify and regulate their emotions? How can you signal trust and build connection...

By championing creative thinking, leaders cultivate a space where ideas flourish, collaboration thrives, and the extraordinary becomes possible, paving the way for sustainable success and growth. "Yet we don't program time for leaders to be creative," says Eugene Sepulveda. "When can they let their mind relax and daydream? The best organizations create environments where that can happen."

With a career spanning decades as a...

The homelessness crisis in the United States is at an all-time high, with 653,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night, the highest number since 2007. Homelessness involves complex factors such as mental health, economic instability, and inadequate social support. Yet recently, a Supreme Court case debated whether sleeping on the streets should be a crime, drawing attention to the lack of humanity that often...

In the past few years, DEI efforts in the U.S. have hit some setbacks. Political divides have deepened, with some states passing laws that limit conversations about race and gender, and the Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in the workplace.

"I've been here before," says Cindy Owyoung, who has been at the forefront of DEI for over 20 years at organizations like GitHub, Charles Schwab, Robinhood, and most recen...