EQUITABLE PODCAST

EquitAble explores the many places where inequities exist. Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams and expert guests explore how clearly defining equity and understanding how to pursue it in various contexts can help diminish, if not eliminate, those inequities.

Most Recent Episodes

Latest Episode

About Our Guest

Jackie O! has impacted thousands of lives as a sacred space holder who nurtures healing and harmony in body, mind and spirit. She advocates for efforts that seek to amplify the urgency of Black health and is a trusted resource for approaches that integrate trauma-informed, culturally responsive, healing practices into urban neighborhoods.

BE WELL

featuring Jacqueline Oselen 'Jackie O'

Joy is explored as a vital, non-negotiable aspect of human well-being and a critical component in the pursuit of equity. Jacqueline Oselen (a.k.a. “Jackie O.”) shares personal stories, community experiences, and practical wisdom on accessing joy, especially during challenging times of grief and conflict. The conversation reframes joy not just as an emotion but as a form of agency and resilience, necessary to sustain individuals and communities engaged in equity work.

Previous Episodes

About Our Guest

Jena Martin is a law professor at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas, and a leading scholar in business and human rights. With a deep commitment to centering human dignity in legal practice, she prepares future attorneys to bridge legal frameworks with real-world impact. Her work challenges corporations and institutions to listen and act on human rights principles, and she brings both scholarly insight and lived experience to every classroom and conversation.

HUMAN RIGHTS

featuring Jena Martin

“Equity is personal. We know when we’re being treated inequitably. What we struggle with is how to help others learn to identify it systematically or how to address it.”

Jena Martin, law professor at St. Mary’s University and scholar in business and human rights, shares how she helps future attorneys connect legal frameworks with the lived experiences of real people. She reflects on her journey through academia — from Howard to West Virginia University to St. Mary’s — and the importance of teaching students to center human dignity in their work. Martin speaks candidly about the complexity of advocating for equity, the challenges of being the only voice in certain rooms, and what it means to listen and act inside corporate environments. This episode explores how equity shows up through access and voice, and why teaching the “why” behind legal systems matters as much as the law itself.

About Our Guest

Naseera Mays is a passionate People Partner, Consultant, and Coach with deep expertise across the full spectrum of the People Experience and HR. She specializes in talent strategy, leadership development, succession planning, and holistic wellness—centering people in every decision. Known for creating inclusive, high-performing workplace cultures, Naseera helps organizations grow by aligning business goals with human needs. Her people-first approach ensures that legal compliance, talent acquisition, and employee well-being work together to foster environments where individuals and organizations thrive.

PEOPLE FIRST

featuring Naseera Mays

with guest host Kym Alexander

“It’s not profits first. It’s people first – to create profits.”

Human Resources expert Naseera Mays and Standpoint Consulting’s Kym Alexander (Chief Strategy and Operations Officer) engage in a compelling conversation about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, affirming that profit gains are a result of prioritizing people. Naseera shares her journey from corporate HR to consulting, revealing the challenges and triumphs of advocating for DEI initiatives that foster creativity and innovation. Emphasizing the need for actionable equity and inclusion, this crucial and timely discussion highlights programs and practices designed to create an equitable workplace where everyone belongs and profits naturally increase.

Still EquitAble

with Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams

“Now is not the time to fight the language war. We’re not gonna win it. It’s the time to be about it.”

Dr. Johnson-Williams dives into some urgent and pressing themes surrounding the current political and economic climate in America. She discusses the rise of authoritarianism and its interplay with race and capitalism, emphasizing that race is a fundamental aspect of America’s identity and economy. As she navigates through the complexities of this moment, Dr. Johnson-Williams offers guidance on sustaining meaningful work and self-care amidst these challenges. She speaks candidly about the importance of language, democracy, and capitalism, and provides advice for those striving to enact social transformation while maintaining peace and joy.

I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

BABIES

with Kandace Thomas

“For us, the central premise of equity from an early childhood standpoint is that all people begin their developmental journey with very differing levels of resources. Those resources are determined by social positioning. So race, ethnicity, class, gender, ability, sexuality, nationality, on and on. And in order for us to realize equity, we have to redistribute resources based on the needs of the individual and the family and the child.” – Dr. Kandace Thomas

Dr. Kandace Thomas and Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams explore the disparities in care and education for children, emphasizing the need for equitable policies and resource redistribution based on individual and family needs. They discuss the importance of investing in maternal health, infant mental health, and early childhood education, especially in historically marginalized communities. Whether you’re a policy advocate, educator, or simply someone looking to make a difference, this episode promises valuable insights into the future of equitable early childhood education. Tune in and join us on this journey towards making positive change for our youngest generations.

PUBLISHING

with Kelis Rowe

“Writing Black stories that center joy and everyday experiences is a revolutionary act that shifts narratives and challenges stereotypes.”

This episode with Kelis Rowe spotlights the critical need for authentic representation of Black American teenagers in young adult romance novels. The discussion emphasizes the importance of these narratives in fostering a positive self-image and broader societal perception. Both Kelis and host Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams dive into the often overlooked areas of Black joy and everyday experiences beyond racial pain, advocating for a more inclusive approach in literature and media.

About Our Guest

Kelis Rowe is a young adult novelist based in suburban Austin, Texas. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, her writing is deeply influenced by her own experiences of young Black love, which she felt was underrepresented in YA literature. Her debut novel, Finding Jupiter, explores themes of grief and first love through the lives of two Memphis teens. Kelis’s work highlights strong, resilient Black characters, offering a fresh perspective on romance and growth in young adult fiction. She lives with her husband and two children, continually inspired by her own love story and committed to enriching the genre with authentic representations of Black youth.

Special Episode: Minority Mental Health Month 2024

July is National Minority Mental Health Month. In this episode, we revisit past episodes to hear from our guests about mental health and why it is an equity issue. Episodes include:

Mind with Dr. David Goode-Cross
Self-Reflection with Dorian Spears
Somatics with Dr. Mary Jo Greil
Wellness with Jacqueline Oselen

These episodes can be found at the Standpoint Consulting website. You’ll also get to meet Kym Alexander, Managing Director of Standpoint Consulting as our guest host.