• Ep310: Antisemitism and Yom HaShoah: Jewish Holocaust Memorial Day, with Alice Henry
    Apr 27 2022

    The Shoah is the Hebrew term for the Holocaust, and the full name of Yom Hashoah VeHagevurah literally means the “day of remembrance of the Catastrophe and the Heroism.”

    How much do you know about Yom HaShoah, and what happens on this day? What’s the difference between Yom HaShaoah and the United Nations’ International Holocaust Remembrance Day?

    Alice Henry draws on her family’s experience of the Holocaust, and her own experience as an Ashkenazi Jewish woman, to share about Yom HaShoah, historic and current antisemitism, Jewish holidays, and much more in this episode of Changing Lenses.

    Bonus: stay with us to the end for a special Yom HaShoah memorial service.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • How Jewish identity is more than just religion
    • Why Whoopi Goldberg was mistaken (and she’s not the only one)
    • The implicit antisemitism in Harry Potter and Friends
    • Of various Jewish holy days, which one is arguably the MOST holy (hint: it’s NOT Hannukah!)
    • How Yom HaShoah is observed in Israel

    Link to episode transcript here.

    Would you like support dismantling systemic inequity and/or surviving it from someone with lived experience?

    As a racialized, recovering recruiter, I'm here to help! Click the link to learn more: 👉🏻"Support for JEDI Visionaries"👈🏻

    Find more support and resources, and contact me directly at: https://www.changinglenses.ca/

     

    Guest Bio and References/Links

     
    About Alice Henry:

    Alice is an Ashkenazi Jewish woman whose grandfather escaped from Nazi Germany and eventually immigrated to the U.S. She’s personally experienced antisemitism throughout her life, and felt compelled to share her story and speak out about Yom HoShoah and Jewish inclusion more publicly.

    In her day job, Alice is a researcher, facilitator, and program coordinator with expertise in zero waste and the circular economy, as well as collaborative decision-making. She is excited to support innovators, public institutions, and our communities as we rethink how our systems can work and how our economies can better support all peoples and our planet.

    Find Alice on:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-henry-43206012b/

    References and resources in this episode:


    Yom HaShoah in Israel – everything stops including highway traffic: https://youtu.be/4uK5uz7d-Oo 

    Info about Yom HaShoah:
    https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/yom-hashoah-holocaust-memorial-day/

    https://www.shiva.com/learning-center/commemorate/jewish-holidays/yom-hashoah/

    https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yom-ha-shoah-holocaust-memorial-day

     The Mourner’s Kaddish: https://sharonmemorial.com/customs-and-traditions/the-mourners-kaddish/

    Info about the UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day: https://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance

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    38 mins
  • Ep309: White Supremacy Culture from a White Man’s Perspective, with Jeff Akin
    Apr 12 2022

    If you were emotionally OK enough with the episode title to click on the link, thanks for making it this far! I’m only partly kidding. The words “white supremacy culture” are definitely triggering, and not just for white people. What that phrase even means is hard to explain.

    So when fellow podcaster and white American male Jeff Akin told me he was (gently) raising awareness about white supremacy culture (“WSC”) at his workplace – and he works for the government – and he’s a high-level executive – I was super curious to know how he felt about WSC.

    Besides being an executive leader, Jeff also teaches about leadership in his podcast, The Starfleet Leadership Academy. I admit, I had preconceived notions about what yet another white man would have to say. But Jeff changed my lens when he shared his own learning journey and struggles with WSC, to now being a champion against it.

    Join me in hearing this high school educated, ex-Navy, pro-wrestling-TV-broadcaster-turned-executive-leader share how he’s helping dismantle white supremacy culture!

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • Ways white supremacy culture manifests in Western workplaces
    • How Jeff gradually changed in response and understanding of white supremacy culture
    • The difference between white supremacy culture and a white supremacist
    • Jeff’s primary weapon against white supremacy culture
    • How to speak up on controversial issues when you can’t speak freely

    Link to episode transcript here.


    Are you looking for job search and career coaching?

    As a racialized, recovering recruiter, I'm here to 👉🏻 "Help you survive the search!"👈🏻 Click the link to learn more!

    Find more support and resources, and contact me directly at: https://www.changinglenses.ca/


    Guest Bio and References/Links


    About Jeff Akin:

    Jeff Akin is a 20-year veteran of the public and private sectors. He has extensive experience in both media and entertainment, as well as over two decades in management and leadership. Jeff specializes in listening to others, helping them unleash their true potential, and giving feedback that is authentic yet kind.
     
    This pro wrestling TV broadcaster turned executive leader is never afraid to get his hands dirty when it comes to improving lives!

    Find Jeff on:

    Website: https://www.jeffakin.com
    Podcast on Apple (or wherever you listen): The Starfleet Leadership Academy

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/jefftakin
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jefftakin
    Instagram: https://instagram.com/jefftakin
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefftakin/


    References and resources in this episode:

    https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info/, curated by Tema Okun and other anti-racism educators.


    Support Changing Lenses✨

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    41 mins
  • Ep308: What Ramadan Means to Me, with Saleha Khan
    Mar 30 2022

    Ramadan Mubarak! This special episode of the Changing Lenses podcast is being released just before the holy month of Ramadan, an incredibly significant time in the Islamic faith.

    Before I met Saleha Khan, the only thing I really knew about Ramadan was that people fasted for the whole month between sunrise and sunset. In order to truly appreciate what Ramadan means, and how it would be celebrated if Islam was the norm (vs. Christianity or secularism), I asked Saleha to share how she experiences Ramadan.

    Saleha was born in Pakistan, raised in Saudi Arabia, and now lives in Canada. She graciously agreed to share her childhood stories of Ramadan in Riyadh, and how that compares to Ramadan as a Muslim woman in Canada.

    Saleha also happens to be a specialist in equity, diversity and inclusion, having worked in this field for over 20 years, almost 14 of which was spent with various Ontario police forces.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • The spiritual and relational meaning of Ramadan
    • Why people fast during Ramadan, and who does (and doesn’t) fast
    • The hardest part of fasting for Saleha (surprise, it’s not feeling hungry!)
    • If you’re not Muslim, how you can create an inclusive work environment for people who honour Ramadan
    • If you are Muslim, how you can advocate for more inclusion at work during Ramadan

    Full episode transcript available here.

    Are you looking for job search and career coaching?


    As a racialized, recovering recruiter, I'm here to 👉🏻 "Help you survive the search!"👈🏻 Click the link to learn more!

    Find more support and resources, and contact me directly at: https://www.changinglenses.ca/


    Guest Bio and References/Links


    A little about Saleha in her own words:
    I have been involved in Diversity & Inclusion development for almost nineteen years now; I consider myself to be one of those blessed ones who work in the same field where their passions and interests lie. I grew up in a multi-lingual and multi-cultural setting and I find that experience has helped me gain insights into human behavior that has supported my journey in leadership development for those entrusted to me. I see this work as a social and ethical responsibility that needs critical perspective and global viewpoints to not only begin courageous conversations in safe spaces but to create those bold places where conversations turn into actions that bring about culture shift.

    Find Saleha on:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saleha-khan-5b12263 


    References and resources in this episode:


    Names for Allah (God):

    https://www.definitions.net/definition/rabb

    https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God_in_Islam

    Fawazeer Ramadan TV Show:

    https://www.arabadonline.com/en/details/advertising/Chevrolet-Arabia-Reimagines-Iconic-Fawazir-Riddle-Shows

    With comments made by children between the age of 8 and 12


    Support Changing Lenses

    👉🏼

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    37 mins
  • Ep307: Going Resume-Free to Hire More Inclusively, with Allie Knull
    Mar 23 2022

    Have you ever felt in your job hunt that you’re being judged on something that doesn’t even represent who are you? Or at best, it only represents a very small part of the whole you. And yet “woke” companies are claiming to want employees to bring their “whole selves” to work.

    I’m saying it out loud: resumes are a terrible tool for hiring, on both the recruiter and the candidate’s side. There are a million reasons why, but one that really stands out is what a racialized job seeker said to me in the last episode. They said, “the resume doesn’t represent who I am.”

    So I was ecstatic to meet a fellow resume rebel in Allie Knull. Allie is the Founder and CEO of ResumeFree™, is a former recruiter, and is “absolutely disgusted” with resumes.

    Companies, employers, recruiters – if you mean it when you say you want more diversity in your organization – then please listen to why a tool that was created in the 1950’s, by a workforce of primarily white men, is not going to get you there.

    Are you ready? Put your JEDI Visionary lenses on, and let’s go!

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • A better way to screen job candidates without using resumes
    • Why keyword searches and AI (artificial intelligence) are harmful
    • What to watch out for if using tests and assessments
    • How to create data and metric based decisions in hiring

    Full transcript available here.

    Are you looking for job search and career coaching?

    As a racialized, recovering recruiter, I'm here to 👉🏻 "Help you survive the search!"👈🏻

    Find more support and resources, and contact me directly at: https://www.changinglenses.ca/

    Guest Bio and References/Links


    About Allie Knull:

    Allie Knull’s passion for talent management has spanned her twenty-year career. Although her career started with international companies, Allie’s recent focus is helping small and scaling business owners master their talent management. Her absolute disgust for resumes was the driving force behind her start-up, ResumeFree™, where they inclusively move top talent from inbox to interview, with their revolutionary screening-as-a-service platform. Allie is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) with CPHR Alberta, a Senior Chartered Professional with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP) and a Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR) with the Institute of Professional Management. She is a Top Recruiter™ in Canada 2019 Award winner, placing 10th overall. 

    Find Allie on:
    Website: https://goresumefree.com
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/allieknull/

    References and resources in this episode:
    • Canadian Literacy Statistics: https://abclifeliteracy.ca/literacy-at-a-glance/
    • Book: The Pink Elephant, by Dr. Janice Gassam
    • Google Scholar (Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. Search across a wide variety of disciplines and sources: articles, theses, ...)


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    44 mins
  • Ep306 Real Talk with Rosie: In the War for Talent, Candidates Become Casualties
    Mar 16 2022

    This episode is all about the experiences of racialized people looking for work. Job hunting is hard enough as it is; but add on to that being Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and any other racialized identity that isn’t white – and it’s even harder.

    This is the 3rd in the series of 4 LinkedIn Lives that I’m re-sharing as podcast episodes, so you loyal listeners also get all the amazing career advice my guests provided.

    There’s a reason why it’s just me on this episode, without any of the people I spoke to. It’s because they don’t feel safe saying this out loud, in public.

    So companies, employers, recruiters – please pay attention to what these job seekers have to say about the way they experience your hiring process. If you want to treat people more equitably and inclusively, and diversify your work force – the way you’re working isn’t working.

    And if you’re a racialized job seeker, I hope you feel validated and less alone as you hear these stories. Trigger warning, you may not want to hear more about a frustrating process right now, and that’s OK. Please take care of yourself. Either way, please know you’re not crazy, and you are being heard.
    .
    .

    In this episode, you’ll learn about these traumatic job seeker experiences:
    • The Cone of Silence
    • The Gated Community Effect
    • Hypocritical Job Descriptions
    • Unequal Burden of Proof
    • Unequal Distribution of Power

    Link to episode transcript here.

    Are you looking for job search and career coaching?

    As a racialized, recovering recruiter, I'm here to 👉🏻 "Help you survive the search!"👈🏻 Click the link to learn more!

    Find more support and resources, and contact me directly at: https://www.changinglenses.ca/

    Follow me on:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosieyeung/

    https://www.instagram.com/rosieyeung_jedi/

    References and resources in this episode:

    https://www.leadershipiq.com/blogs/leadershipiq/35354241-why-new-hires-fail-emotional-intelligence-vs-skills

    https://www.ere.net/ouch-50-of-new-hires-fail-6-ugly-numbers-revealing-recruitings-dirty-little-secret/


    Support Changing Lenses 🙏🏻💙

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    46 mins
  • Ep305: We Need to Talk About Period Pain. Period. With Lux Perry
    Mar 8 2022

    Endometriosis affects more people than prostate cancer, breast cancer and heart disease combined. It's in the top 20 most painful diseases in the world, and there’s no cure. It affects 1 in 10 people with a uterus. And it is so undiagnosed, so misunderstood, that patients get threatened with expulsion from school, or fired from work.

    Today is International Women’s Day. It happens once a year. But this disease affects the people who have it at least once a month, and Lux Perry has suffered from it for over 15 years. 

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • The crippling effects of endometriosis
    • Who can get it (hint: it’s not just women)
    • The ways capitalism, ableism and misogyny are linked
    • How period discrimination presents in work and school
    • How companies can create a culture of inclusion for people with periods (and disabilities)

    If you know someone else who’s been told their period pain is normal; who is struggling to hold a 9-to-5 job or attend school; or has been silenced by patriarchal society – please share this episode with them so they know they’re not alone. You can share straight from wherever you’re listening to this podcast right now, or from my website, www.changinglenses.ca/podcast.

    Thank you!

    Link to episode transcript here.
    .
    .

    Are you looking for job search and career coaching?

    As a racialized, recovering recruiter, I'm here to 👉🏻 "Help you survive the search!"👈🏻 Click the link to learn more!

    Find more support and resources, and contact me directly at: https://www.changinglenses.ca/
    .
    .

    Guest Bio


    About Lux Perry:

    Lux is a non binary disabled queer who was formally diagnosed with endometriosis after struggling for 15 years with debilitating pain. Lux and their two friends founded Somedays on the not so radical idea that period pain is not normal and that you deserve the tools and support you need to have a pain free cycle. Somedays provides safe, natural and effective period relief products based on muscle recovery principles.

    Find Lux and Somedays on:

    Website: https://getsomedays.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getsomedays/

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@getsomedays

    References and resources in this episode:

    UNICEF article: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/fast-facts-nine-things-you-didnt-know-about-menstruation

    Lux’s Personal Pain and Healing Journey – https://getsomedays.com/a/blog/pain-my-entrepreneurial-mentor 

    30 Days for Endo: https://go.rallyup.com/f795a7/Campaign/Details
     

    Support Changing Lenses

    Buy me a Bubble Tea! 🧉👉🏻 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/changinglenses 👈🏻

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    46 mins
  • Ep304: Building Walls against Immigrants: Systemic Barriers to Employment, with Xin Yi Yap
    Mar 2 2022

    When you’re job hunting, does it sometimes feel like you’re trying to breach an impenetrable fortress? Recruiters and hiring managers talk about attracting top talent, but when it comes down to it, they act more like an immigration department trying to keep undesirable people out, than warmly welcoming people in.

    And if we’re going to compare recruiting to an immigration process, the best person to do that is someone who’s going through both. Meet Xin Yi Yap, the special guest on this episode. She is a Singaporean who moved to the U.S. to go to university, and now that she’s graduated, she needs to work in a qualifying job in order to stay in the country.

    You don’t have to be a foreign student or visa worker to relate to Xin Yi’s story. If you’ve ever been rejected by an employer because you didn’t fit their profile; or if you’ve ever been passed over for a job you KNOW you can do because of your accent or other irrelevant excuse – then you’ve experienced what I call the Gated Community Effect.

    This is the second of 4 LinkedIn Lives that I’m re-sharing as podcast episodes. If you’d prefer to watch the full video recording of the whole Live episode, you’ll find it on my website at www.changinglenses.ca/trainingvideos.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • How U.S. immigration is like the Hunger Games
    • Stereotypes and microaggressions against international students and employees
    • The fallacy of “stealing jobs” from citizens
    • Why we need to decolonize self-confidence
    • How employers can recruit more equitably
    • Inspiring advice for international students and job seekers today

    If you know someone else who’s going through the Gated Community Effect, please forward this episode to them so they can feel supported. You can share straight from wherever you’re listening to this podcast right now, or from my website, www.changinglenses.ca/podcast.

    Thank you, JEDI friends!

    Link to episode transcript here.
    .
    .

    Are you looking for job search and career coaching?

    As a racialized, recovering recruiter, I'm here to 👉🏻 "Help you survive the search!"👈🏻 Click the link to learn more!

    Find more support and resources, and contact me directly at: https://www.changinglenses.ca/
    .
    .

    Guest Bio and References/Links

    About Xin Yi Yap:

    Xin Yi (She/Her) is an IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Social Justice) practitioner, certified Diversity & Belonging Facilitator, and analyst. Hailing from Southeast Asia, Xin Yi looks at IDEAS issues through an intersectional and international lens. She understands that systems of oppression manifests differently throughout the world, and is thus able to facilitate conversations of change with folks from different backgrounds. 

    Xin Yi has also worked with multinational organizations on a multitude of ways to cultivate equity, inclusion, and belonging for all, from IDEAS workshops to strategy implementation.

    Find Xin Yi Yap on:

    Website: https://www.xincereyiyours.space/ 

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xin-yi-yap/

    References in this episode:

    Poem by Rupi Kaur from her book Home Body: https://www.stylist.co.uk/books/rupi-kaur-home-body/450832 

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    43 mins
  • Ep303: Culturally Relevant Career Tips to Empower You, with Oscar Garcia
    Feb 23 2022

    Almost all the career counselling, mentorship, corporate training etc. I’ve received have been almost exclusively from white people. Nothing wrong with that – I’ve been blessed to receive great advice and support from many white leaders over the years.

    But I’m not white. And I had to filter a lot of the info I got through my cultural lens.

    So when I discovered Oscar Garcia, the special guest for this episode – I knew I had to have him on the podcast. Oscar is a Hispanic-American immigrant who went from being an ESL student to an author and founder of his own company, Aspira Consulting. Oscar’s mission is to empower you, so opportunities come to you.

    If you, like me, have been craving career advice and mentorship from a racialized corporate leader who is relatable and relevant, Oscar provides that in this episode.

    👉🏻And if you know someone who needs culturally relevant empowerment, please share this episode with them. You can share straight from wherever you’re listening to this podcast right now, or from my website, www.changinglenses.ca/podcast.

    Thank you, JEDI friends!

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • Three key components of culturally relevant leadership training
    • How we can translate lived experiences and immigrant experiences into relevant job experience for recruiters
    • What the best universities and professors can’t teach you
    • How people from humility-based cultures can still promote their accomplishments
    • How racialized people and immigrants can be fully themselves and feel empowered to succeed in Western business culture

    Link to episode transcript here.

    Are you looking for job search and career coaching?

    As a racialized, recovering recruiter, I'm here to 👉🏻 "Help you survive the search!"👈🏻 Click the link to learn more!

    Find more support and resources, and contact me directly at: https://www.changinglenses.ca/

    Guest Bio and References/Links

    About Oscar Garcia:

    Oscar is the Founder & Chief Empowerment Officer of Aspira Consulting, a Silicon Valley training and consulting firm providing culturally relevant career and leadership programs.  He is an introvert turned international speaker.  Oscar has given over 500 seminars and trained over 20,000 professionals across five continents.  His training style is of a “practrainer” - he actively practices what he trains others to do.  He is an ESL (English as a Second Language) student turned contributing author to “Hispanic Stars Rising Volume II: The New Face of Power”, where his story, I AM A MINORITY, highlights the importance of embracing the struggle, valuing our identity, and the power of vulnerability.  As Chief Empowerment Officer, Oscar empowers you, so opportunities come to you.

    Find Oscar on:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiefempowermentofficer/

    Website: https://aspiraconsulting.com/

    “Career Talk with OG” Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/career-talk-with-og/id1530311004

    (or wherever you get your podcasts) 
    .
    .

    ✨Support Changing Lenses✨

    Buy me a Bubble Tea! 🧉👉🏻https://www.buymeacoffee.com/changinglenses 👈🏻

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    45 mins