More Than Words Podcast
Meet Liz and Shara. An unlikely pair who connected through an assignment in West Africa, a near impossible work request, a pandemic pool day, and hoop earrings. Affectionately known as the “Aunties of Inclusion”, Liz and Shara both share a passion to create impactful change. Join Liz and Shara as they explore and empathize how to value the similarities shared with others, the differences they are curious to discover, and the tools they have found helpful. This podcast is about growth, inclusion, and appreciating the humans around you. Engagement and discussion are critical to self-growth, and they won’t shy away from the tough stuff. They are looking beyond DEI academically and promoting accountability, celebration and curiosity. Their vision is to build a community where people can be completely themselves, navigating fear while being courageous and transforming insight to action. They embody the lessons of their abuelitas, where caring for others isn’t hospitality but the essence of who you are, how you survive, and how you are known. It’s a legacy.
Episodes

Thursday Apr 27, 2023
Thursday Apr 27, 2023
Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion and equity through growth and learning.
This week, we are joined by author, speaker, consultant, and designer Jessica Bantom who recently wrote the book Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World.
Design is expression, a service, an act of creativity. But if designers design for everyone, how can there be so little diversity in the profession? In this book, Jessica Bantom examines the implications of design in everyday life, from spaces and products to images and the fashion industry.
Jessica Bantom is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) practitioner and workplace strategist whose goals are to help organizations develop customized strategies for transformational change and to enable individuals to take immediate action to become more inclusive. She is a skilled speaker and certified facilitator and coach with a passion for helping people and organizations reach their full potential and actualize the values of inclusion and belonging from the work team up to the enterprise level.

Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion and equity through growth and learning.
This week, we are bringing a special guest who keeps us on point with new technology and edits our episodes even when someone (cough Liz) has too much fun over the weekend and sends it last minute. Leo "Buddy" Tyler is the CEO and Founder of CradleRock Entertainment. Leo has spent much of his career becoming an expert in multimedia and we are so grateful that he is part of The Aunties of Inclusion community. Join us as Leo shares his story, his faith, and how he started CradleRock Entertainment.

Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion and equity through growth and learning.
This week we discuss coaching, human rights, international collaboration & co-creating, and salsa dancing with special guest, Sara Guerreiro. Sara is a trainer, a coach for international professionals and a human rights consultant.
Sara has a background in law and human rights, she is a certified conflict mediator and she has worked over 20 years in home-based and international development settings in four different continents.
Sara has trained more than 3,000 people on human rights, access to justice and gender-based violence, with the UN and in Academia. As a UN consultant, she has led diverse teams to conduct research studies and prepare legal drafts. Sara is currently a lead instructor and mentor for beginner coaches with @CoachDiversityInstitute.
Mother of 2 awesome children and married to a global thinking American, Sara was born in Portugal, she travels back and forth between Portugal and the USA.
She is passionate about movement and she has been teaching Salsa for the last 15 years.
Learn more at www.saracoach.com.

Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion and equity through growth and learning.
In today's episode, we are joined by Haley, Founder & Creative Director at the Mac Ryan Production House. She has made it her mission to dive deep into business and treat it as her own to help deliver the strategic vision of her client’s brand needs.
Haley has worked with clients in three (3) different countries and has provided creative direction to more than a dozen industries.
With her background in technology training, a proud software-fanatic, and knows how to utilize more than twenty (20) pieces of software that can better her client’s businesses. Her process is proven to take a brand to the next level to achieve the performance results.

Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion and equity through growth and learning.
This week, Liz and Shara share their thoughts on the "9 Future of Work Trends for 2023", an article published by Gartner. You've often heard Liz and Shara talk about the lasting impacts of the pandemic on us, both individually and collectively. Gartner really confirms everything we've been saying and gives organizations a playbook on how to successfully tackle many of the challenges we are facing in these historic times. The face of work is really changing.
Source: Gartner

Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion and equity through growth and learning.
This week's episode features special guest, Sarah Akinterinwa who is an author, illustrator, and New York Magazine cartoonist. In this episode, we talk about relationships, art, body image struggles, and loving where you are at in life.
In 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and having recently been made redundant, she created the comic "Oyin and Kojo", showcasing humorous single panel cartoons of a black-British couple's everyday life. Two months later, the cartoon editor of The New Yorker magazine discovered her work and asked her to become a contributor. It was from then on that she became a cartoonist for The New Yorker magazine, and later became a full-time artist, creating comic, editorial cartoons and illustrations, and delivering artist workshops.
Listen on Apple Music, Spotify and watch us on YouTube @morethanwordspodcast
#theauntiesofinclusion #morethanwordspodcast #podcastersofinstagram #thenewyorkmagazine #author #cartoonist #relationships #sarahakinterinwa

Friday Feb 10, 2023
Friday Feb 10, 2023
Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion and equity through growth and learning.
In this week's episode, we are joined by Susan (Susi) Knight, President of Knight Consulting, Founder & Chair of 50/50 Women on Boards Houston Chapter. Susi shares her experience on transitioning from Corporate to pursuing her purpose. Join us as we talk about what it means to be authentic, our legacy, and the importance of having more women on boards.
Susi owes her professional success to planning, persistence and determination. In August 2022, she transitioned from Corporate America to pursue her purpose. She is on a mission to help every human build mental fitness so they can fulfill their true potential for both happiness and positive contribution. Community involvement is integral to her daily life. She founded 50/50 Women on Boards and is a mentor to women business owners for Cherie Blaire Foundation. For three years, Susi earned The Points of Light President's Volunteer Service Award, which honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities.

Saturday Feb 04, 2023
Saturday Feb 04, 2023
Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion and equity through growth and learning.
In today's episode, we are joined by Christian Brooks of Brooks Bookkeeping & Accounting Services. Her business aims to empower and educate women of color entrepreneurs and small business owners on their taxes and business finances. Known for developing the knowledge of her clients, Christian is more than a bookkeeping and tax service. She works tirelessly to ensure that you are knowledgeable and financially healthy, making us true partners in your growth and success. In addition to her business, Christian is highly sought after for her expertise in climate change, policy and community partnerships. She has board and advisory roles that leverage her solutions- driven approach.
Pull up a seat and let’s get prepared together for tax season!
Be sure to follow @brooks.bookkeeping.accounting #theauntiesofinclusion #morethanwordspodcast #taxseason #bookkeeping #entrepreneurs #smallbusinessowners #diversityequityandinclusion #belonging #community

Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Join The Aunties of Inclusion as we continue pushing forward diversity, inclusion and equity through growth and learning.
In today's episode, we are joined by Angela Chen who is discussing personhood and ethics of care. Angela helps us explore how intentionality around employee needs, connection to a purpose, and maximizing care in the workplace increase shareholder value.
Angela is a PhD Candidate at The University of Melbourne and researching human resource management practices that create a flourishing workplace for employees. Current research interests are compassion, suffering, incivility in a cross-cultural context, and sustainable HRM in the workplace.
You won't want to miss this episode!
#theauntiesofinclusion #morethanwordspodcast #personhood #ethicsofcare #research #humanresources #growth #universityofmelbourne

Sunday Jan 01, 2023
Sunday Jan 01, 2023
Happy New Year from The Aunties of Inclusion. Join us as we reflect on 2022 and look forward to 2023. We are filled with gratitude, joy, growth, and lessons learned. This podcast would not have been possible without our listeners and supporters.
Don't forget to comment, like, share and subscribe.
www.morethanwordspodcast.com