Is It Time To Cancel ‘Cancel Culture’?

You Must Be Woking

In the inaugural episode of You Must Be Woking, Dawn Hurst and Craig Richards take the opportunity to introduce themselves to their audience, providing a glimpse into their backgrounds and the experiences that have shaped their perspectives on diversity and inclusion (EDI). Dawn, with her extensive experience as an inclusion and culture professional, along with Craig, a seasoned culture, organisational design, and leadership expert, share their motivations for launching the podcast. They express a shared passion for fostering genuine and meaningful conversations around EDI, emphasising the critical need to move beyond surface-level initiatives that often fail to create real change.

How do they plan to redefine conversations around EDI? Throughout the episode, Dawn and Craig emphasise their commitment to creating open and honest dialogue, they explore the limitations of many current EDI programmes, which often fail to make a substantial impact and are more focused on "checking boxes" for public relations purposes. The hosts stress that the podcast will focus on tackling tough issues and asking difficult questions that are often avoided in mainstream EDI discussions, aiming for a shift from shallow initiatives to a more genuine, transformative approach. Is it time to cancel Cancel Culture? they ask, exploring whether the idea of cancelling certain views or people is truly aligned with the ideals of inclusion and diversity.

What makes EDI efforts truly effective? A key theme in this episode is the importance of accountability and measurement in EDI initiatives. Dawn and Craig argue that organisations must establish clear metrics to gauge whether their EDI efforts are having a genuine impact. They also discuss how leadership plays a pivotal role in influencing an organisation’s EDI culture. Beyond just supporting diversity policies, leaders must actively embody EDI values in their actions and decisions. Only then can leaders help foster inclusive environments that align with organisational goals.

What are the most common mistakes organisations make when implementing EDI? In a segment where they answer listener questions, Dawn and Craig break down some of the most common pitfalls organisations face when trying to make EDI a core part of their culture. They discuss how tokenism can harm rather than help diversity initiatives, and why it’s vital to create environments where diverse voices are genuinely heard and respected, rather than being included just for show. The hosts also highlight the slow and challenging process of driving cultural change, emphasising that it requires sustained commitment, resilience, and the willingness to engage in difficult conversations.

What’s the “Woke or Joke” segment all about? To add a lighter touch to the episode, Dawn and Craig introduce a recurring segment called "Woke or Joke," where they evaluate recent news stories and trends related to EDI. They humorously assess whether these stories represent true progress or are just shallow attempts to appear inclusive. This fun segment provides a critical lens on current events, allowing listeners to think more deeply about the motivations behind certain EDI movements and the implications they have for real change.

Throughout the episode, they encourage listeners to engage with the podcast by sharing their thoughts, experiences, and questions about diversity and inclusion. They are passionate about creating a community where diverse perspectives are valued and welcomed, and they express their commitment to continuously exploring the nuances of EDI. By inviting listener interaction, they aim to create an ongoing dialogue that will help shape future episodes and keep the conversations dynamic and relevant.

As the first episode of You Must Be Woking comes to a close, they leave listeners with a powerful question: What role will you play in shaping the future of inclusion—both in your workplace and in the world around you? And, is it time to cancel ‘Cancel Culture’?

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