Dave Armstrong brings us inside the vital role small, locally owned grocery stores play in rural community resilience, equity, and well-being. Through the story of Farm Fresh in Carterville, Illinois, the episode highlights how such businesses support local vendors, foster personal relationships across generations, and address issues of isolation and imagination. By blending old-school values with a modern commitment to inclusivity, Farm Fresh demonstrates the quiet, everyday work of building equity and community from within.
This episode explores how individuals and communities can move toward a more equitable world by intentionally gathering, sharing resources, and embracing both the joy and the intensity of the human experience. Kym Alexander talks with Chad Jones, an organizer and embodiment coach, who discusses innovative, accessible event models and the role of somatic awareness in nurturing genuine leadership and community connection. The conversation delves into the importance of vulnerability, ritual, and tending to the physical and emotional needs of individuals as foundational to equity and systemic change.
Racial equity work is multifaceted, and progress depends on a diversity of methods, audiences, and personal experiences. Dr. Nika White, Founder of Nika White Consulting, and Jasmine Williams, CEO & Principal Consultant of Parson Williams Group, talk with Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams, exploring the realities of equity-driven consulting, highlighting the importance of meeting people where they are, prioritizing values alignment, and recognizing the limits of workplace change versus long-term personal growth. Their conversation underscores the need to harmonize compliance, authenticity, accountability, and structural change to create workplaces—and societies -- that truly pursue equitable outcomes.
Holistic wellness is often co-opted by profit-driven industries rooted in white supremacy, failing to serve the unique needs of queer, trans, and BIPOC individuals. In an impactful conversation with Standpoint Consulting's Kym Alexander, Dalia Kinsey, RD, LD shares significant lived and professional experience as a holistic dietitian, offering strategies for resisting toxic wellness culture, reclaiming body autonomy, and centering self-affirmation and pleasure. The conversation explores decolonizing health practices, creating environments for authentic thriving, and recognizing systemic barriers that impact marginalized communities’ paths to wellness. In this episode, Kym refers to the concept of Targeted Universalism. john a. powell, the Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, offers this approach as a way of focusing on the specific needs of subgroups in pursuit of positive social outcomes.
Direct Primary Care is presented as a transformative model for healthcare, re-centering the doctor-patient relationship and bypassing insurance-driven restrictions, bureaucracy, and inequity. Dr. Maryal Concepcion shares her personal journey from corporate medicine burnout to founding her own rural practice, advocating for a more affordable, accessible, and human-centric approach. The conversation highlights both the systemic obstacles and the opportunities that arise when healthcare is driven by small business principles tied to empathy, equity, and direct community impact.
Our guest refers to the infant isolation experiment attributed to Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire. The story is widely considered apocryphal, but such forbidden experiments have been conducted with highly detrimental effects. The fact of the human need for connection is regularly affirmed in ethical research.
The episode explores the philosophy of community-driven change and equity through the eyes of Natalie J. McKinney, executive director of Whole Child Strategies, Inc., and Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams. By challenging the myths of individualism and the "bootstrap" narrative, the conversation reveals the indispensable role of communal infrastructure, trust-building, and direct engagement with residents in neighborhood transformation. The objective is to highlight how sustainable change and equitable opportunities can only be achieved by empowering communities to define and solve their own problems.
The significance of genuine collaboration and trust-building between philanthropic organizations and black-led nonprofits are highlighted in this special conversation with Aerial Ozuzu, Director of Community Impact for The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, and Tenikki Sesley, Chief Executive Officer of Apple Seeds, Inc.. The discussion covers the creation and operation of the Black-Led Nonprofit Leadership Alliance by the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, the discussion unveils how centering equity, vulnerability, and honest dialogue led to actionable changes in funding approaches and organizational support. Personal narratives and professional insights underscore the need for listening to those most impacted and shifting power dynamics in philanthropy to amplify equitable outcomes.
The complex beauty and contradictions of Southern identity, community, and language is explored through heartfelt conversation with Landon Bryant, social influencer, comedian, and author of “Bless Your Heart, A Field Guide to All Things Southern.” Kym Alexander (Chief Strategy and Operations Officer) joins Adriane and Landon to discuss how joy, community, and equity are interwoven with Southern traditions, language, and changing notions of identity, while also reflecting on the importance of preserving culture amidst evolving social values. They also reflect on the need for honest conversations about privilege, inclusion, and the different ways Southerners build connection and resilience, .
Joy is explored as a vital, non-negotiable aspect of human well-being and a critical component in the pursuit of equity. Jacqueline Oselen (a.k.a. "Jackie O.") shares personal stories, community experiences, and practical wisdom on accessing joy, especially during challenging times of grief and conflict. The conversation reframes joy not just as an emotion but as a form of agency and resilience, necessary to sustain individuals and communities engaged in equity work.
"Equity is personal. We know when we're being treated inequitably. What we struggle with is how to help others learn to identify it systematically or how to address it."
Jena Martin, law professor at St. Mary’s University and scholar in business and human rights, shares how she helps future attorneys connect legal frameworks with the lived experiences of real people. She reflects on her journey through academia -- from Howard to West Virginia University to St. Mary’s -- and the importance of teaching students to center human dignity in their work. Martin speaks candidly about the complexity of advocating for equity, the challenges of being the only voice in certain rooms, and what it means to listen and act inside corporate environments. This episode explores how equity shows up through access and voice, and why teaching the “why” behind legal systems matters as much as the law itself.
If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready. That is a really important part of doing equity work.
As the world undergoes significant shifts in 2025, having a stable foundation is essential. That requires strong policies, effective practices, and a deep understanding of how to institutionalize equity. Christina-Mai Just (Chief Equity Officer) and Kat Johnson (Chief of Staff) of Utah's Promise, who are also Standpoint Consulting's clients, have successfully navigated these challenges through alignment services and executive leadership team coaching. In this episode, they discuss how their years of equity work have prepared them for today’s disruptions in the U.S. They share practical strategies for embedding equity within systems and structures, demonstrating how this approach drives both organizational success and societal impact. Through real-world examples from various departments, they also highlight how equity is not just an initiative but a fundamental aspect of organizational culture and operations.
"It's not profits first. It's people first to create profits."
Human Resources expert Naseera Mays and Standpoint Consulting's Kym Alexander (Chief Strategy and Operations Officer) engage in a compelling conversation about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, affirming that profit gains are a result of prioritizing people. Naseera shares her journey from corporate HR to consulting, revealing the challenges and triumphs of advocating for DEI initiatives that foster creativity and innovation. Emphasizing the need for actionable equity and inclusion, this crucial and timely discussion highlights programs and practices designed to create an equitable workplace where everyone belongs and profits naturally increase.
"Now is not the time to fight the language war. We're not gonna win it. It's the time to be about it."
Dr. Johnson-Williams dives into some urgent and pressing themes surrounding the current political and economic climate in America. She discusses the rise of authoritarianism and its interplay with race and capitalism, emphasizing that race is a fundamental aspect of America's identity and economy. As she navigates through the complexities of this moment, Dr. Johnson-Williams offers guidance on sustaining meaningful work and self-care amidst these challenges. She speaks candidly about the importance of language, democracy, and capitalism, and provides advice for those striving to enact social transformation while maintaining peace and joy.
"We need to redefine public safety by engaging with Black communities to explore alternative measures beyond traditional policing, aimed at genuinely addressing their needs and concerns."
April Frazier Camara discusses the pivotal role of public defenders in safeguarding individual rights and ensuring fairness within the justice system. She highlights the systemic inequities in law enforcement and the essential work of the Black Public Defender Association (BPDA) in redefining public safety for Black communities. In this conversation, Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams adds insight on how media often misrepresents public defenders, emphasizing the need for changing narratives and advocating for more equitable legal representation.
People are often shocked when I tell them that only 3% of black women-owned businesses last longer than 3 years. Another little shocking piece of data is that only 1.1% of black woman-owned businesses are employers.
Facing financial turmoil at the end of 2019 and the subsequent impacts of the pandemic, Renee Malone navigated her business through adversity by focusing on foundational work, equity, and resilience. Alongside host Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams, she reflects on the unique challenges Black female entrepreneurs face and emphasizes the importance of aligning with clients who value their work. This episode sheds light on the perseverance required to sustain and grow a Black woman-owned business in America.
Celebrating the 5th anniversary of Standpoint Consulting, guests Kym Alexander and Kayla Brooks join host Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams to discuss their collaborative journey in building a Black women-owned business focused on equity. They reflect on the impact of trust, love, and mutual admiration on their work, the transformative power of leading with love, and their hopes for the future. Through personal experiences and shared values, they emphasize the importance of creating systems that allow people to thrive without barriers.
July is National Minority Mental Health Month. In this episode, we revisit past episodes to hear from our guests about mental health and why it is an equity issue. Episodes include
These episodes can be found at the Standpoint Consulting website. You'll also get to meet Kym Alexander, Managing Director of Standpoint Consulting as our guest host.
"I look at everything in terms of relationships. Social poverty basically is you don't have in your home, on your street, in your network, in your neighborhood, the kinds of institutions and relationships that are essential to human flourishing. And we don't really think about human flourishing very much. We we talk about need, but human flourishing depends upon certain types of relationships for me, a certain types of community, certain types of meaning. All these things are highly important and you don't get it by yourself on your phone or in your household." - Dr. Seth Kaplan
The episode aims to explore the importance of strong social relationships within neighborhoods, particularly immigrant communities, and the impact of social poverty on people's quality of life. Dr. Seth Kaplan discusses the deep connection between neighborhood fragility, equity, and race, emphasizing the need for policies that address the needs of all communities to foster sustainable support and flourishing neighborhoods.
"For us, the central premise of equity from an early childhood standpoint is that all people begin their developmental journey with very differing levels of resources. Those resources are determined by social positioning. So race, ethnicity, class, gender, ability, sexuality, nationality, on and on. And in order for us to realize equity, we have to redistribute resources based on the needs of the individual and the family and the child." - Dr. Kandace Thomas
Dr. Kandace Thomas and Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams explore the disparities in care and education for children, emphasizing the need for equitable policies and resource redistribution based on individual and family needs. They discuss the importance of investing in maternal health, infant mental health, and early childhood education, especially in historically marginalized communities. Whether you're a policy advocate, educator, or simply someone looking to make a difference, this episode promises valuable insights into the future of equitable early childhood education. Tune in and join us on this journey towards making positive change for our youngest generations.
"For all the work that I do, I don't actually use the word equity in my work. Generally, right? Because I don't know that it's achievable. What I probably use is trying to do right by people or trying to be fair. And you know, the myriad definitions of fair...I really try to think through, how do I do right by this person? How do I do right by people? And I would say, the growth over the last 3 years has recognized that I am part of people too."
Today we're looking into the crucial intersections of mental health care and equity with our distinguished guest, Dr. David Goode-Cross, a licensed psychologist and the founder of The Goode Practice. Dr. Goode-Cross brings a wealth of experience and a revolutionary approach to mental health care, focusing on empowering marginalized communities and disrupting traditional systems to create more equitable healthcare environments.
In today’s conversation, we’ll explore Dr. Goode-Cross’s unique perspective on systemic change within mental health practices, the challenges of providing services in an equitable fashion, and the importance of identity concordance in therapeutic outcomes. Dr. Goode-Cross also sheds light on his personal journey from aspiring self-help author to becoming a reputable psychologist, his research on resilience among Black gay and bisexual men, and the day-to-day realities of working within a practice that primarily serves people of color who are also gender or sexual minorities.