In the season finale, Erin and Toral are joined by Cal Walker, retiree of Cornell and longstanding citizen of Ithaca for nearly 50 years. Cal shares his journey from Civil Rights-era Alabama to New York, recalling the moments that ignited his passion for activism and social justice. Tune in to hear how Cal has embodied the mantra “blossom where you are planted,” enriching the Ithaca and Cornell communities and encouraging listeners to cultivate meaningful connections by sowing seeds of positive change wherever they can.

In this episode, Erin and Toral let listeners in on the evolving world of recruitment with Carolyn Chow (she/her/hers) and Brad Stock (he/him/his), colleagues and talent acquisition partners at Cornell. The pair share their unique journeys from applicants to recruiters at the university and how their experiences shape the way they engage with candidates today. Whether it's job seekers looking for employment opportunities or hiring managers pursuing prospective candidates, tune in to explore best practices when it comes to being intentional and inclusive during the hiring process.

Join us in celebrating Women’s History Month as we delve into this year’s theme: "Appreciating women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion." In this episode, Erin and Toral are joined by Lauren Frederick (she/her/hers), colleague and administrative coordinator in Cornell’s Department of Inclusion and Belonging. With honesty and vulnerability, Lauren takes listeners on a journey, sharing the challenges of navigating life as a first-generation professional, single mother, and being neurodivergent. From setbacks to triumphs, Lauren reveals how her life experiences have shaped and fueled her commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive world for all.

In this episode, Erin and Toral are joined by Ati Alipour (she/her/hers), assistant ombuds in the Cornell University Ombuds Office. Ati shares her rich history in the field of conflict resolution and mediation as a practicing attorney and former consultant for the United Nations. From understanding power imbalances to embracing differing perspectives, hear how to best address and navigate conflicts in our everyday work and life. For more information on the Cornell University Ombuds Office, visit https://ombuds.cornell.edu/.

Join Erin and Toral as they delve into the dynamic world of workplace mental health with Jasmine Jay (she/her/hers) and Wai-Kwong Wong (he/him/his) from Cornell’s Faculty & Staff Assistance Program (FSAP). Together, they explore the evolution of mental health awareness and share insights on fostering a supportive workplace culture. Tune in to hear the variety of services FSAP offers and inspiring perspectives on prioritizing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace as they stand by the message, “It’s okay not to be okay.” For more information on FSAP, visit https://fsap.cornell.edu/.

According to Carl Cornell’s (he/they) surname, one would think he was destined for the university. However, Carl’s path to Cornell was anything but traditional. In this episode, Erin and Carl dive into his journey and how he’s navigated his personal and professional lives with a unique intersection of identities. Now, as the assistant director of undergraduate advising at Cornell Bowers CIS, Carl has become a leader in many communities across Cornell while advocating for himself and others along the way.

In this episode, Erin and Toral talk with longtime Cornell colleagues Barbara Oh, Ph.D. ‘17 (she/her/hers) and Cate Thompson ‘83 (she/her/hers) about the important role both mentors and mentees play in enhancing personal and professional growth. The pair discuss how they met at the university and immediately forged a mutually fulfilling mentoring relationship. Tune in to hear them unravel the threads of their mentoring journey, sharing insights, anecdotes, and lessons learned along the way.

On this week’s episode, Erin and Toral are joined by Rachel Sumner and Stephen Kim, colleagues with the Intergroup Dialogue Project (IDP) at Cornell. They share what IDP is all about and how it has influenced communication across differences for over a decade. Tune in to hear their professional journeys from students to lecturers and their thoughts on what freedom of expression can look like and how to empower ourselves and others to engage in critical dialogue. For more information on IDP, visit https://idp.cornell.edu.

Erin and Toral are joined by Adrian Durant (he/him/his), the head coach of men’s track and field at Cornell, for a conversation about his journey from the U.S. Virgin Islands to competing in college and the Olympics to becoming a head coach at an Ivy League institution. As one of the youngest track coaches in the country who has raced around the globe, Adrian offers up his playbook for goal-driven success and cultivating a winning team culture both on the field and in the workplace.

Erin and Toral sit down with the Carl A. Kroch University Librarian at Cornell for a conversation about the critical role that libraries play in preserving and authentically portraying the past. Elaine Westbrooks (she/her/hers) shares how libraries have evolved over time and with technology. From dusty bookshelves to the digital frontier, tune in to hear how libraries provide access to a rich tapestry of perspectives, help distinguish fact from fiction, and enhance inclusion and belonging.

On this week’s episode of the podcast, two Gen Xs, a Baby Boomer, and a Millennial dive into today’s multigenerational workforce and discuss the challenges and opportunities it presents. Erin and Toral talk with Dane Cruz (he/him/his) and Ari Mack (he/him/his), colleagues in Organizational Development and Effectiveness at Cornell. They help unpack the experiences and stereotypes of the different generations and how they show up in the workplace. Tune in to hear how five generations can work side-by-side in today’s world of work.

C Lucas (they/them/theirs), wellness community programming specialist at Cornell, joins Erin and Toral to weigh the challenges and complexities of the fitness industry. C shares their thoughts on how fitness and wellness have evolved over time, especially in the workplace. Tune in to hear how C is breaking down barriers to help make fitness and wellness opportunities more inclusive and accessible to all identity populations.

Erin and Toral kick off season six with Angela Herrera Canfield (she/her/hers), director of undergraduate admissions for the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell. Angela shares her evolution at the university, beginning as an undergraduate student and transitioning to her role as a director. She also discusses her experience as a first-generation college student and how it informs her work, considering the range of challenges that historically excluded students and staff may face and the important role that mentorship plays.

Join Erin Sember-Chase, Toral Patel, and Bert Odom-Reed for the first episode of a brand-new season. Hear their hopes of continuing to elevate the voices and experiences of fellow employees while also diving deeper into the discomfort. They tease upcoming episodes that reflect topics and discussions circling the country and Cornell, including the university’s theme of “freedom of expression.”

Season five of the podcast wraps up with a very special guest. Coming up on her one-year anniversary at the university, Cornell’s vice president and chief human resources officer, Christine Lovely (she/her/hers), joins Erin and Toral for a conversation about her first year at Cornell and in Ithaca, NY. Christine discusses the unexpected opportunities that emerged throughout her career and how she strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where all employees can connect through conversation. Tune in to hear Christine’s journey and what she looks forward to in year two at Cornell.

Erin and Toral welcome two members of the newly formed Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment team for a conversation about creating connection in a world where many employees are working remotely. Together, Jamie Doss (she/her/hers), talent acquisition partner, and Sonja Baylor (she/her/hers), recruitment manager, share how they have effectively sustained a positive and inclusive workplace on a team of primarily remote and hybrid employees. They also reveal how key behaviors, such as vulnerability and intentionality, exhibited by both employees and leaders can contribute to this sense of belonging.

In this episode, Erin and Toral are joined by Cyrus Hamilton-Ferguson (he/him/his), assistant director of Student Disability Services at Cornell, for a conversation about the increasing intersection of personal and professional lives. Cyrus opens up about his experiences with disability as a professional and a parent, speaks about the importance of honoring mental health, and shares how his sense of belonging is fluid and impacted by the navigation of new identities.

In honor of this year’s Women’s History Month theme, “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,” Erin and Toral invite the editor of the Inclusive Excellence Podcast, Grace DePaull (she/her/hers), to discuss storytelling as a powerful tool to break down boundaries and construct identities. She shares how storytelling has taken her across the country, around the world, and has landed her at Cornell. Tune in to discover how Grace navigated both her identity and travels through writing and how audio editing the podcast allows her to continue to shape the stories we tell.

What began as a vision in 2020 grew into a collection of stories that unravel many of the untold truths of Cornell’s history. On this episode of the podcast, Erin and Toral invite Melina Ivanchikova and Rob Vanderlan from the Center for Teaching Innovation to share their digital exhibition “Any Person, Many Stories—Histories of Exclusion and Inclusion at Cornell.” The pair discuss the impetus for the project and how understanding Cornell’s past can actually help increase a sense of belonging throughout the community today. Visit https://blogs.cornell.edu/manystories/ to read the stories from the collection.

Erin and Toral continue their conversation about employee engagement as they dive deeper into the challenges that new hires face with their guest Cassie Pierre Joseph (she/her/hers), the director for employee engagement at Cornell. Cassie reflects on her journey upon arriving at the university and how her current role serves as a crucial resource for new employees across campus. She offers advice in helping new hires get acclimated to the environment and encourages listeners to seek support in order to maximize their experience at Cornell.