Explore every episode of the podcast DEI Will Not Die
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23: The Gap Between Being Included and Holding Power | 30 Jul 2026 | 00:27:14 | |
Bree talks with William Ward-Boas, a proud Autistic and First Nations advocate with intellectual disability from the LGBTIQA+ community, about what genuine co-design requires and why most organisations aren't actually doing it. Drawing upon over seven years' experience across the advocacy sector, William draws a sharp line between consultation and co-design, unpacks the trauma embedded in asking people to share lived experience without knowing where it will lead, and reflects on actively sharing power as they moved from project worker to board chair. The episode closes on William's framework: being invited into a room isn't influence, being consulted isn't being listened to, and being present isn't having power.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast | |||
| 22: Racial equality, but on whose terms? | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:27:49 | |
Andrea joins Bree for an honest conversation about what anti-racism actually requires inside Australian workplaces, and why most organisations get it wrong. Drawing on her own experience as a woman of colour navigating largely white public sector organisations, Andrea unpacks the difference between individual racist behaviour and structural racism, why "I don't see colour" invalidates the people it's meant to reassure, and who really gets to decide what equality looks like. The conversation turns to workplace complaints processes, and Andrea is direct about the harm they cause: all-white investigators and decision-makers, the expectation that you educate the organisation about your own experience, and the people who quietly stop reporting because they know it will go nowhere. A grounded look at what leaders need to do differently, from racial literacy to actually handing over power.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast | |||
| 21: AI and DEI: it's not either/or | 02 Jul 2026 | 00:18:53 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Bree Gorman takes on one of the most charged topics in the field right now: artificial intelligence, and what it means for diversity, equity and inclusion.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast | |||
| 20: Ripples of Inclusion: Anti-racism as a gateway with Carrie Sawyer | 18 Jun 2026 | 00:31:47 | |
Bree's first international guest, Carrie Sawyer, joins to talk about her book Ripples of Inclusion. a question-and-answer guide to anti-racism that grew out of the conversations people were having after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Carrie and Bree dig into why "can't we just get along?" is more loaded than it sounds, how privilege becomes harmful through gaslighting rather than its existence alone, and what allyship looks like beyond good intentions. Carrie also shares the story of her six-year-old niece's Black Lives Matter lemonade stand and what happened when the neighbourhood showed up.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast | |||
| 19: When Structure Does the Inclusion Work for You | 04 Jun 2026 | 00:26:45 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Bree Gorman is joined by Dr. Judy Lundy to explore what becomes possible when organisations build a structure that doesn't rely on a traditional hierarchy. Judy shares her lifelong connection to equity, from being told at 14 that she couldn't train guide dogs because she was a girl, to her current work teaching and researching diversity, equity and inclusion. Together, Bree and Judy unpack how traditional hierarchical workplaces can unintentionally limit inclusion, even when there is a strong intent to do better. The conversation challenges the idea that inclusion can be achieved through surface-level initiatives alone. Instead, it highlights the role of organisational design in shaping equity outcomes, and why leaders need to be willing to share power if they want to see meaningful change. A thoughtful and practical conversation about moving beyond performative DEI, creating environments where people feel safe to contribute, and taking tangible steps toward more inclusive ways of working.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast | |||
| 18: ADHD at Work: One Size Does Not Fit All (Part 2) | 21 May 2026 | 00:19:53 | |
In part two of their ADHD series, Dr Bree Gorman shifts from friction points to practical strategies for managers, peers, and people with ADHD themselves. Bree unpacks what actually helps ADHDers thrive at work: redefining productivity away from desk time, building structured flexibility, breaking work into chunks, reducing cognitive load, and normalising different working styles. They also call out the workplace cultures that quietly make things harder from rigid hybrid models and two-hour meetings to glorifying burnout. Grounded in lived experience and six years of focus groups, this episode is a honest, practical guide to designing work that gets the best out of neurodivergent employees and frankly, many other people too.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast | |||
| 17: Built to Exclude: Why Disabled Leaders Are Still Underrepresented | 07 May 2026 | 00:29:33 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr Bree Gorman is joined by leadership coach, speaker, and CEO of the Disability Leadership Institute, Christina Ryan, to explore the barriers disabled leaders face, and what it really takes to design workplaces that work for everyone. Together, they unpack the assumptions that sit beneath traditional leadership development, why disability is so often misunderstood or hidden in the workplace, and the real reasons disabled people are still underrepresented in leadership. Christina shares the top barriers disabled leaders face, and challenges organisations to move beyond surface-level inclusion efforts toward meaningful system change. This conversation goes beyond representation, reframing disability as a powerful lens for rethinking how work is designed — from flexibility and job structure to leadership expectations and performance. Because when we build systems that support disabled people to lead and thrive, we create better, more effective workplaces for everyone.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast | |||
| 16: ADHD at Work: Motivation, Burnout and Better Workplaces (Part 1) | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:21:17 | |
ADHD isn't just an attention issue and most workplaces still don't understand that.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast | |||
| 15: Intersex Inclusion at Work: Why Adding the 'I' Isn't Enough | 09 Apr 2026 | 00:28:34 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr Bree Gorman is joined by Paul Byrne-Moroney to unpack what meaningful inclusion of the intersex community actually requires. Paul shares his lived experience to challenge common misunderstandings about intersex, including the tendency to conflate biological sex with gender identity. Together, Bree and Paul explore why intersex is not a gender identity or sexuality, and why that distinction matters. This episode calls out the gap between intention and impact when organisations use the full LGBTIQA acronym without engaging the intersex community. Bree and Paul discuss how this shows up in practice, from conference presentations to the use of Pride flags, and why adding the "I" without consultation is not progress. This is a practical and honest conversation about moving beyond performative inclusion, being transparent about your scope, and building approaches grounded in genuine engagement, accountability, and respect.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 14: It's More Than Pronouns: Building Real Trans Inclusion at Work | 26 Mar 2026 | 00:22:54 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr Bree Gorman explores what meaningful trans and gender diverse inclusion actually looks like inside organisations. Bree challenges the common starting point of "rolling out pronouns" and explains why visibility initiatives alone do not create safer workplaces. Instead, real inclusion requires organisations to examine the systems and structures that shape people's daily experience at work, including HR databases, payroll systems, policies, and the ways identity data is collected and used. This episode is a practical conversation about moving beyond good intentions and building workplaces where trans and gender diverse people are genuinely safe, respected, and supported.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 13: Compliance Won't Save You: The Leadership Accountability DEI Requires | 12 Mar 2026 | 00:23:52 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr. Bree Gorman is joined by Belonging and Inclusion Strategist and Founder of Belonging Co, Mantej Singh, to explore how leaders can move beyond compliance and tokenism in DEI work. Together, they unpack seven barriers that Mantej believes stall meaningful progress, including HR-only ownership, compliance mindsets, delegation without accountability, and what role leaders should play in DEI. Mantej challenges leaders to take a proactive stance on anti-racism, build racial literacy, and embrace inclusion into core systems rather than treating it as an add-on.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 12: Recruitment Changes Who Enters. Culture Decides Who Stays. | 26 Feb 2026 | 00:20:40 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr. Bree Gorman explores recruitment as a powerful, but often over-relied-on tool for building diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces. Bree unpacks why improving hiring processes alone isn't enough, and how recruitment changes can fall flat when they're not supported by broader system change across the organisation. Drawing on experience, Bree examines where bias and barriers show up throughout recruitment and what it takes to move from representation to real impact. This episode is a call to look beyond who gets hired and focus on the systems that determine who thrives, progresses and stays, because recruitment only works when the whole organisation is designed for equity.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 11: Gender Equality Action Plans | 12 Feb 2026 | 00:20:02 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr Bree Gorman unpacks the limits of gender equality action plans when intersectionality is treated as an afterthought. They explore how compliance-driven approaches can unintentionally widen privilege gaps and pull organisations away from more holistic DEI work.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 10: Why DEI Demands More Than Compliance | 18 Dec 2025 | 00:28:23 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr Bree Gorman sits down with gender equality leader Michelle Redfern to explore what it really means for organisations to choose the "right side of history" when it comes to DEI. They unpack why compliance and quotas aren't enough on their own, how global politics influences corporate strategy, and why intersectionality must sit at the centre of any genuine gender equity effort. Michelle shares real-world examples from working with executives, boards and multinationals, highlighting the difference between performative commitments and deep cultural evolution. Bree and Michelle discuss visibility, governance, resourcing and the crucial role DEI practitioners play in translating intention into action.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 09: Calling In, Calling Out, Calling On | 04 Dec 2025 | 00:22:43 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr Bree Gorman explores how we respond when harmful behaviours show up in our workplaces. From microaggressions and exclusionary comments to ongoing discrimination, Bree unpacks the difference between calling in, calling out, and calling on, and how each approach can support learning without compromising safety or accountability.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 08: Behind the Scenes: How I Became a DEI Consultant | 20 Nov 2025 | 00:23:23 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr Bree Gorman reflects on how transferable skills can shape a meaningful career in DEI. From their beginnings as an analytical chemist to becoming a DEI strategist, Bree shares how critical thinking, stakeholder engagement, and bridging divides all play a role in creating more inclusive workplaces. They also open up about navigating ADHD, career transitions, and the impact of leadership decisions that focus on outcomes rather than hours. This honest conversation reminds us that the path to DEI isn't linear and that inclusion starts when we remove barriers so everyone can thrive.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 07: No One Is An Expert: Why DEI Thrives on Collaboration | 06 Nov 2025 | 00:30:54 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr Bree Gorman and Andrew Fitisemanu explore what it really means to be a DEI consultant in today's world. They unpack the myth of "expertise" in a field that's still growing and discuss why humility, honesty, and collaboration are essential for lasting impact. For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 06: Rethinking Employee Resource Groups | 23 Oct 2025 | 00:18:44 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not DIE, Dr Bree Gorman explores the role of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and how to build inclusion in long-standing organisations.
For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 05: When to Nudge, When to Nurture | 09 Oct 2025 | 00:25:01 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not Die, Dr. Bree Gorman is joined by Winitha Bonney OAM for a conversation on how DEI practitioners can influence leaders and organisations. For tools, coaching, and support: breegorman.com
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 04: Who Does DEI Work Belong To? | 25 Sep 2025 | 00:19:09 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not Die, Dr Bree Gorman unpacks the question: Who does DEI work really belong to?
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 03: Performative or Transformative? How to Tell the Difference | 11 Sep 2025 | 00:27:16 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not Die, Dr Bree Gorman sits down with DEI leader Teresa Lombardo to unpack the difference between performative and transformative DEI.
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 02: The DEI Plan That Actually Gets Done | 28 Aug 2025 | 00:20:08 | |
In this episode of DEI Will Not Die, Dr Bree Gorman gets candid about why so many DEI strategies fail, and how to create one that actually sparks change.
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| 01: Is DEI Dead? Why the Work Matters Now More Than Ever | 14 Aug 2025 | 00:12:59 | |
In this debut episode of DEI Will Not Die, Dr Bree Gorman lays the foundation for the podcast with a clear message: while the language and tactics of DEI may change, the need for inclusive, equitable workplaces never goes away.
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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| Welcome to DEI Will Not Die | 18 Jun 2025 | 00:02:13 | |
https://www.breegorman.com/podcast/Is DEI dead? Not even close. DEI Will Not DIE cuts through the noise with sharp, practical insights for DEI practitioners, people leaders and changemakers. Hosted by Bree Gorman, coach, consultant and trusted voice in DEI strategy and inclusive leadership. This podcast dives into the real work behind impactful equity and inclusion. From building DEI plans that don't gather dust to leading with authenticity, this is your space to reflect, learn and lead with purpose.
Show notes and resources: breegorman.com/podcast
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