In this thought-provoking episode of The Compassionate Cultures Podcast, host Rebbecca Hemmings speaks with Eugene Hilton, founder of North Star AI Solutions, about the promises and perils of artificial intelligence in today’s workplaces.

As organisations increasingly turn to AI to streamline recruitment, performance management, and decision-making, many overlook the risk that bias can be built into the very systems meant to create fairness. Eugene offers both practical advice and a stark warning: without intentional oversight, AI could deepen existing inequities rather than dismantle them.

Together, Rebbecca and Eugene explore how leaders and managers can embrace AI responsibly, embedding cultural humility, transparency, and ethical safeguards at every stage. They discuss what it really means to use technology in service of inclusion, and how to ensure that innovation never comes at the cost of humanity.

Part 2 of our first live edition of the Compassionate Cultures podcast is now streaming. At the start of this episode, our panel takes on a pressing question: how is the widespread public showcasing of the St George’s flag creating challenges inside the workplace? And what are leaders doing to navigate the tensions this symbol is stirring? This conversation continues our exploration of how UK societal discourse, around who is deemed deserving and who is not, is becoming increasingly polarised. From flags and migrant hotel protests to marches on the streets, these issues inevitably seep through workplace doors. The challenge for organisations is how to respond. Joining me in this live discussion are: • Head of DEI&B at Birmingham City Council • CEO of The Smallpeice Trust • Head of Student EDI at the University of Birmingham, Loreal Stokes We would love to hear your reflections on Spotify, and please remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Now streaming on all major platforms and at www.strawberrywords.co.uk.

UK societal discourse around who is deemed deserving and who is not is becoming increasingly polarised. The flags, the migrant hotel protests, and the marches are all symbols of this growing discontent. But how does the workplace contend with these issues when they inevitably seep through its doors?

This is the focus of the first live edition of the Compassionate Cultures podcast, featuring the Head of DEI&B at Birmingham City Council, the CEO of The Smallpeice Trust, and the Head of Student EDI at the University of Birmingham, Loreal Stokes.

To make it easier to engage with, the episode has been split into two parts. As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on Spotify. Don’t forget to subscribe. Now streaming on all major platforms and at www.strawberrywords.co.uk.

This week on Compassionate Cultures, we’re joined by Carla Devereux, a psychotherapist and leadership development specialist. Drawing on both personal and professional experience, Carla offers a nuanced exploration of autism in adulthood, particularly in the workplace. In this insightful conversation, Carla helps us better understand how autism can present in adults, especially in those who are undiagnosed. She challenges some of the most common myths, explains how masking shows up, particularly in women and shares why behaviours like stimming and palilalia may go unnoticed or misunderstood.

Carla also offers insights into autistic communication styles and how teams can create space for directness without judgement. We discuss what psychological safety means in practical terms for neurodivergent employees, how leaders can support self-regulation without stigma, and why a diagnosis in adulthood can be both daunting and liberating. Whether you're a manager, colleague, or someone navigating neurodiversity yourself, this episode offers compassion, clarity and tangible ways to create more inclusive workplaces. Connect with Carla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-devereux/ Access the Autism Spectrum Quotient by Simon Baron-Cohen, professor of psychology at Cambridge University and head of the Cambridge Autism Research Centre. https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient Listen now to join the conversation. Streaming on all major platforms and at www.strawberrywords.co.uk.

In this episode, Rebbecca is joined by the Assistant Director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council to discuss the Cultural Humility and Safety programme, a pioneering initiative that equips staff with the tools to navigate discrimination, antiracism, power dynamics, and compassionate relationships in the workplace.

Rooted in the findings of the Birmingham and Lewisham African and Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR), the programme was developed in response to the stark health disparities experienced by Black communities.

This conversation is particularly valuable for organisations seeking a meaningful and emotionally intelligent way to educate their teams on discrimination, using the gentle yet powerful lens of cultural humility.

Streaming on all major platforms and at www.strawberrywords.co.uk.

In this straight-talking episode, we’re joined by Kevin J Brazant, practitioner-academic, creator of Disrupt the Discourse Co-Creation Framework™ and founder of Lounge Akademics. With roots in grassroots activism and a growing academic portfolio, Kevin brings a rare and necessary perspective on race, exclusion, and justice in the UK universities. Drawing from both lived experience and scholarly research, Kevin challenges commonly accepted terms like “hard to reach” and offers an unflinching critique of the systems that fail racially marginalised communities. He speaks about the importance of co-creating solutions with those most impacted, the need for trauma-informed education, and how institutions can move from tokenism to true transformation. Whether you’re a policy-maker, educator, academic or advocate for social change, Kevin’s reflections will leave you contemplating about how to creatively embed equity and compassion into your practice. Streaming on all major platforms and at www.strawberrywords.co.uk.

What does it take to build a world where careers aren’t determined by background or privilege? In this energising episode of Compassionate Cultures, host Rebbecca Hemmings speaks with James Adeleke, founder and CEO of Generation Success. From being awarded the Freedom of the City of London to leading thousands of structured mentorships, James shares his deeply personal journey and the values that have shaped his mission to create a more equal society. Together, they discuss the power of mentorship, the meaning of true belonging in the workplace, and why social mobility must be treated as a business priority. James’s belief that “fear is normal, but silence is harmful” cuts to the core of what compassionate leadership requires: presence, not perfection. His practical wisdom and compelling metaphors offer a fresh, heartfelt perspective on what it means to lead with cultural humility and unlock potential in overlooked talent. This is an essential listen for any leader or HR professional ready to take meaningful action and open the doors that too many still find closed.

In this episode of the Compassionate Cultures Podcast, Rebbecca reflects on the powerful words and presence of historian David Olusoga. From uncovering the hidden histories behind everyday British staples like tea and fish and chips, to challenging how we frame national identity, David invites us to look more honestly at the stories we tell ourselves. He reminds us that history isn’t about guilt, it’s about truth, and that we cannot build a more compassionate society without first acknowledging what has been erased, distorted, or conveniently forgotten. We explore themes of cultural appropriation, historical sanitisation, and resilience in the face of public hostility. You’ll hear about Jamaican boxer Hezikiah Moscow, the erasure of African soldiers from World War II narratives, and how language like "West Indian merchant" masks the legacies of enslavement. Rebbecca also reflects on what it means to be calm in the face of injustice and why excellence, not anger, can be a radical tool for change. This is a heartfelt episode about truth-telling, hope, and the power of compassionate storytelling.