PODCAST: Microdosing on the Margins
Episode Description
What is it like to work in professional contexts across difference?
In this final episode of our series, Lindsey explores how microdosing wellness can be an antidote to hostile work environments, particularly for marginalized groups. She shares personal experiences navigating racial and ethnic identities as an educator and outlines The Teaching Well's journey to becoming a pro-black and queer-safe organization.
It’s time for organizations to meet this moment, and this episode highlights the need for empathy, action, and aligning organizational practices with values to foster truly inclusive workplaces. It’s a data-driven investment to actualize your desire for workplace well-being. Tune in now ❤️
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Episode Highlights
Microdosing Wellness + DEIJ work (2:00)
Stats + the importance of retaining diverse talent (2:30)
Somatic: Grounding and Breathing Practice (6:00)
Racial Battle Fatigue and Seeking a Different Way Forward (11:00)
Lindsey’s personal experiences as an educator facing racial microaggressions and hostile work environments (14:00)
Case Study: The Teaching Well's concrete actions to become a pro-black organization (22:00)
Affirmations (26:00)
The importance of empathy and action in DEIJ work, rather than sympathy and shame (32:00)
Critical Hope: Wellness is anti-racist, and when we resource ourselves, we can do wonders. (38:35)
Homework:
Reflection Questions
Who is most on the margins in our organization?
How do we increase their workplace well-being? (ask them, don’t guess!)
What are my DEIJ edges? What are the biases that I hold and where do they store in my body, behavior or communication? - What’s my work?
Affirmations
I will not contribute to the oppression olympics
I’m steady and values-aligned.
I can hold boundaries and heal from prior employment trauma
My rest is resistance
Collective liberation starts with me.
Powerful Quotes
“What is it like to work in professional contexts across difference?” -Lindsey
“Folks are quitting their bosses and toxic adult work cultures.” -Lindsey
"If I have the audacity to build a diverse team, I better be prepared to take concrete actions to ensure they can thrive." - Lindsey
"Racial battle fatigue, the concept of the stress and trauma that BIPOC folks experience when navigating racially hostile environments. And it can be a combination of those micro-aggressions, the macro aggressions or systemic racism, is real." -Lindsey
"I'm done with allyship. I want co-conspiratorship - leverage your privilege, and I'll do the same for you. We have work to do, and I have a whole lot of critical hope about it." -Lindsey
“When we have tense moments - we have agency“ -Lindsey
“I don’t want you to tolerate me, I want you to embrace me.” -Lindsey
"This isn't performative. This is a necessity. This is a data-driven investment to actualize your desire for workplace well-being, for an inclusive workplace, for belonging, for actualizing your mission, vision and values." -Lindsey
"Young people in our communities are watching us. They are more progressive, forward-thinking, creative, and innovative. They want to feel like they can bring more and more of themselves and dedicate less and less mental and emotional energy to masking, fitting inside of a box." -Lindsey
“It’s a patience for peace that I’m summoning in this moment.” -Lindsey
"This is the work. Young people in our communities are watching us. They are more progressive, forward-thinking, creative, and innovative. They want to feel like they can bring more and more of themselves and dedicate less and less mental and emotional energy to masking, fitting inside of a box." -Lindsey
"Collective liberation starts with me. My rest is resistance." -Lindsey
"Don't feel bad for the folks in your org. It's time to link up in solidarity." -Lindsey
"To be a change leader means you need multiple at-bats. This is a steady practice - small things over time, often." -Lindsey