Podcast 134

By Jackalyn Rainosek, PhD

In this deeply meaningful episode of Hot Topic, Bold Talk, I sat down with my dear friend and co-host, Nigel Lakey, P.Eng, SPEC—a thoughtful conservative with decades of C-suite leadership across public and private sectors. Together, we took on one of today’s most misunderstood and politicized topics: diversity, equity, and inclusion, or as we lovingly call it, the little d, e, and i.

Nigel and I approach life from different political philosophies—he is conservative, and I am liberal—but what unites us is far stronger: our lifelong dedication to serving others, growing in understanding, and finding shared truth beyond the noise.

Both of us have spent decades working inside organizations across the globe—me in over 60 industries as a coach and consultant, and Nigel in over 70 countries as a senior executive. And what we’ve seen is this: when done well, DEI transforms organizations. Not with buzzwords or blame—but with depth, self-awareness, and a commitment to understanding people as individuals with rich, diverse experiences.

In this episode, we address four core questions:

• What originally inspired the creation of DEI programs?
• Why has backlash grown in some circles?
• How do we define diversity, equity, and inclusion in real, human terms?
• And how can we reframe or redesign these programs so that they enrich businesses, communities, and personal lives?

You’ll hear us speak candidly about the damage done when DEI is reduced to buzzwords or taught by the untrained. We also share the powerful transformations that are possible when DEI is taught with humility, emotional intelligence, and a real willingness to engage.

What makes this conversation special is the deep respect we share. We didn’t agree on everything—but we listened, we learned, and we built something bigger than either of us could have alone.

We hope this conversation inspires you to listen more deeply, speak more thoughtfully, and believe in the possibility of unity through shared values.

With gratitude and fierce hope,
Dr. Jackalyn Rainosek
Host, Hot Topic, Bold Talk