I’m so Excited to share a huge update with you.
This is the biggest thing I can do to help you on your inclusion journey.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


The inclusion problems you’re facing and how to solve them using evidence


Why I created the Ask Dr Jonathan beta tool (and what it can do for you)


How I used my own method to test, validate, and build a breakthrough solution


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Key Takeaways from This Episode:

I’ve made a huge breakthrough that will benefit you

“Someone designed an inclusion strategy in less than an hour..”


I’m showing you that the methods I use work

“I created a hypothesis. I tested the hypothesis.”


This isn’t just an update; it’s documented evidence

“This gave me evidence that it was a problem worth solving.”



Check out these resources (if applicable):
Join the waitlist for the Ask Dr Jonathan Pro version.

Stop Comparing Your Inclusion Journey to Online Strangers
It’s really harming you.I think you need to stop.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


Stop Comparing Your Inclusion Journey to Online Strangers


The Proxy Problem of Diversity and Inclusion


Choosing Wisely Who You Compare Yourself To



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Key Takeaways from This Episode:


Stop Comparing Your Inclusion Journey to Online Strangers


“They were comparing themselves, their work, their inclusion journey to Random People On The Internet”




Don’t use false proxies to fake evidence for yourself


“Are gala dinners a proxy for an inclusive workplace”




Choose wisely who you decide is worthy of comparison


“Did it ever occur to you that you get to choose who you compare yourself to”




Check out these resources:
The Benchmarking Mistake That’s Holding Back Your Inclusion Work
The Proxy Problem of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

If you need encouragement on your inclusion journey this message is for you.
You’re finding this because you need it.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

Why you should keep going on your inclusion journey
Why you don’t need a big budget to make a difference
How to stay focused and avoid distractions on your inclusion journey

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Key Takeaways from This Episode:

You’re doing better than you think you are.

“You’re the one trying to build a culture that often fights back.”


You don’t need a big budget.

“They’re too busy doing what looks boring in photos and videos.”


You’re not alone

“I’m on a mission to help a million people like you to make your workplace inclusive.”

How Automating Feedback Kills Inclusion
Everyone’s talking a lot about Artificial Intelligence at work.The promise is things will get better but I’ve spoken to a leader who said then when it comes to trust. It makes things worse. For inclusion.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


How Automating Feedback Kills Inclusion


The Feedback Fallacy and Why It’s a Problem


Social Exchange Theory and Its Role in Building Inclusive Workplaces


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Key Takeaways from This Episode:


Automating feedback destroys trust.


“Last week I spoke to an HR leader in an education business who said: ‘AI shouldn’t be taking the feedback responsibility away from managers. Managers need to learn how to write good feedback.'”




Feedback is a social exchange, not a software task.


“If someone gives you feedback, if you are open to feedback from that person. It’s likely that you trust that person. It’s likely that they earned that trust.”




Trust is the foundation of inclusion.


“The first thing is to earn trust. This means you must… but it also means creating an environment where people can trust each other. We find this takes place via social exchanges.”




Check out these resources (if applicable):
3 Frameworks I Use To Build Inclusive Workplaces

To create an inclusive workplace you may need to stop from time to time.
Maybe it’s time for you to take a break.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

Why you may need to take a break from inclusion
Why charismatic voices with narrow experience can be harmful
How taking a break can improve your motivation and clarity

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Key Takeaways from This Episode:
Take a break if you need it.
“If you need to take a short break to realise that, then by all means do it.”
A break is not quitting.
“I wasn’t quitting. I wasn’t burned out. What I did switch off was paying attention to all the noise that you find on social media.”
You’ve got more control than you think?
“The basics of high impact inclusion work are within your control.”

Inclusion work is often unsustainable for 1 simple reason.It never makes it into the portfolio of projects that matter to the business.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


[The Portfolio Problem of Diversity and Inclusion]


[How inclusion can contribute to performance, accountability, and sustainability]


[Three practical ways to build a business case for inclusion]



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Key Takeaways from This Episode:


If it’s not in the portfolio, it’s not protected.


“They don’t get tracked. They don’t get funded. And they don’t survive.”




Clear business cases travel further than clever ones.


“You’re not trying to sound impressive. You’re trying to make sense.”




Inclusion isn’t a favour — it’s a function.


“Does it help us deliver results?”

Diversity and Inclusion faces a chicken and egg problem.
Leaders want evidence before they act.
But the evidence only appears after they act.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


The Chicken and Egg Problem of Diversity and Inclusion


Why Organisational Evidence Matters More Than External Reports


How to Use the Feasibility Filter to Build Internal Credibility


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Key Takeaways from This Episode:


The only way to create proof is to act first.


“They want evidence that inclusion works without doing the work that creates the evidence.”




Building your evidence is better than borrowing rand evidence.


“If you want credibility, you don’t have to borrow it from people you don’t trust.”




The chicken and egg problem isn’t solved by reports. It’s solved by results.


“Most of that research is correlation, not causation.”




Check out these resources (if applicable):
Everything You Need To Know About The Famous McKinsey Report ‘Why Diversity Matters’ [Report Breakdown]

ERGs are “a waste of time.”
Too many people think this.
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Key Takeaways from This Episode:
You can’t scale ERGs if participation is penalised.
“It’s not a lack of commitment. It’s an incentive problem.”
Stop pitching passion; start mapping outcomes.
“Leaders want to see business impact.”
Instrumental ERGs lead to strategic integration.
“Frame them as business-critical projects.”
Check out these resources (if applicable):
Why The 2 Core Functions Of An Employee Resource Group Matter For Diversity & Inclusion
Dr Jonathan’s Thesis

You’ve heard people telling stories and acting like it’s evidence.
but how do you turn anecdotes into evidence?
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

Why anecdotes are claims not conclusions
The difference between claims, assumptions, and hypotheses
How to test ideas without wasting time or budget

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Key Takeaways from This Episode:

Anecdotes are starting points, not stopping points.

“The story is typically making a claim and they are presenting it as evidence.”


Anecdotes are hiding places for claims

“These are statements but if you’ve been to enough panel events you’ll hear a witty story wrapped around it.”


Claims aren’t conclusions until they’re tested.

“We don’t just accept that. We test it. We gather evidence to support or contradict it.”



Check out these resources:

Reconstructing Inclusion by Amri B. Johnson 
 “You are harder to ignore when you have evidence to support your claims. It works like a magic pill!”

Things are moving so fast with Ask Dr Jonathan.
I want to give you an update and make you a special time sensitive offer you can’t refuse.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

How to Build an Inclusion Strategy in 60 Minutes
Why Ask Dr Jonathan is More Than a Virtual Librarian
Details of the Inclusion Impact Sprint Offer

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Key Takeaways from This Episode:

You walk away with documents, not just discussions.

“We generated step by step processes.”


No deliverables? No payment. Zero risk.

“If you don’t leave with a board-ready brief and a 7-day pilot roadmap your leaders can use, you don’t pay.”


You’ve got until August 29th to move.

“Deadline is Friday 29th August”



Check out these resources (if applicable):

Inclusion Impact Sprint – A high-impact, time-sensitive offer with only 10 spaces (7 remaining at time of recording).
Book your Sprint here. 

I collect inclusive frameworks like investors collect properties.I’ve got 3 three I use all the time.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety


Social Exchange Theory


PICOC Framework


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Key Takeaways from This Episode:


There are 4 stages of Psychological Safety


“This model acts as if the beginning of psychological safety has achieved that.”




Social exchange is built on trust


“This is why you also have a social contract — this reflects social exchange, unspecified obligations, no formal contract so you need trust.”




We use PICOC to get really specific about inclusion work


“Instead of vague goals like ‘We want more diversity,’ PICOC forces clarity.”




Check out these resources:


The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety by Timothy R. Clark


Justice in Social Exchange by Peter M. Blau (1964)


Evidence-Based Management by Eric Barends and Denise Rousseau

I’m not here to help you pass an exam.I’m here to help you get results.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


How to use a simple Inclusion Test in your workplace


Why the Inclusion Test is about changing conditions, not memorising content


A favourite example of using this in real life.


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Key Takeaways from This Episode:


Insights are useless until it’s applied at work.


“I love education… but you know what I love even more? Using what you’ve learned to make a difference in your life.”




Inclusion Test is pass/fail


“No attempt is a fail. Any attempt with a measurable result is a pass… too many people fail.”




Every episode’s question is a blueprint for action.


“At the beginning I tell you what I’m going to cover… at the end, I ask a practical question. The answer to that question is an action.”




Check out these resources:


Diversity Pay Gaps: The Explanation You Need To Understand

Things are moving a lot faster than I expected.I’ve got a special invitation for you — and I’m excited to share this.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


[My Best Offer Yet — And How You Can Be Part of It]


[How This Podcast Became the Longest-Running Inclusion Podcast in the World]


[Introducing “Ask Dr Jonathan” — A Custom AI Thought Partner Trained on the Podcast]



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Key Takeaways from This Episode:




Work with me to build a resource you’ll actually use.


“This isn’t just a product. It’s a tool built with you — not just for you.”




There are only 100 spaces — and they will go fast.


“I’m creating a Founders Circle. A private group of forward-thinking leaders helping shape the future of evidence-based inclusion.”




When it’s gone, it’s gone.


“And would like to get that at a once in a lifetime rate… then this is for you.”







Check out these resources:


AskDrJonathan.co – Apply to be part of the Founders Circle


The Birthday Special : 7 Essential Inclusion Lessons from 7 Years of Podcasting

Not sure if your inclusion work is making an impact?These 3 questions will show you… fast.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


How we use The Feasibility Filter


Why parties, parades and panel events don’t help you


why you need leading indicators for your work


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Key Takeaways from This Episode:


Are We Solving a Problem That Matters to the Organisation?


“If the problem doesn’t link to the business, you’ve got no business talking about it.”




What’s the outcome we want


“Training is not an outcome.”




Can We Show What’s Changed?


“This is the question that separates progress from empty gestures.”




Check out these resources:


Ask Dr. Jonathan: A free tool offering instant access to Dr. Jonathan’s ideas, principles, and actionable advice—based on 400+ podcast episodes, 200+ newsletter editions, and 10+ years of experience with FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies. Try it here. 


Progress You Can Prove: Everything you need to prove your organisation is becoming more inclusive. Get it here. 

Every week, leaders like you tell me how much you love this podcast.But you wish you could ask me questions — in real time.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


Ask Dr Jonathan – The AI Tool Built on Evidence-Based Inclusion


Why Accessing Inclusion Frameworks Should Be Easier


How to Participate in Testing the Ask Dr Jonathan Tool


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Key Takeaways from This Episode:


You’re not the only collecting Evidence. I do too.


“Evidence-based inclusion requires us to gather evidence.”




Don’t be ashamed to try when you’re not ready


“There are going to be shortcomings. But I’m still shipping it.”




You are the reason I’m doing this


“This serves my mission: To help a million people like you.”




Check out these resources:


Get access to Ask Dr. Jonathan here. 

You’re the average of the five people you compare yourself to.
Did it ever occur to you that you’re comparing yourself to the wrong people?
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

Why starting with borrowed benchmarks sets you up to fail.
How to tell if a benchmark is applicable to your setting.
How to choose benchmarks that inform decisions.

Play the Episode for More
Key Takeaways from This Episode:

Bad Benchmarks Start With Bad Comparisons

“A benchmark that reflects their priorities won’t help you track your progress.”


Insight is more valuable than performance scores.

“What would we do differently if this number changed?”


Benchmarks must help you steer, not just score.

“If it doesn’t help you decide what to do next, it’s not useful.”



Check out these resources:

Progress You Can Prove – The new programme mentioned in the episode

Most DEI metrics are just a pantomime.They’re not tracking things that matter.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


Why most DEI efforts fail before any work has begun


Why “quick wins” often become long-term liabilities


How to test your inclusion project before investing in delivery


Play the Episode for More
Key Takeaways from This Episode:


Outputs don’t prove progress: outcomes do.


“Training is not an outcome.”




Specific problems demand specific solutions.


“You can track how many people turned up to an event. You can count how many policies you updated. You can show how many people completed a training course. And none of it may be relevant.”




Focus on preventions instead of a cure.


“You’d be surprised how often I see strategies full of goals that sound good, but don’t translate into day-to-day actions.”




Check out these resources:







Business Case in a Box – A course that helps you build a business case your CFO can trust
Progress You Can Prove – A course to help you track and show how your organisation is becoming more inclusive (coming soon)
Evidence Based Inclusion System – A course to help you implement a repeatable, systematic process for inclusion (coming soon)

Every organisation has its problems.But not all of them are worth solving.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


the 5 point feasibility test we use with our clients


How copying others’ inclusion strategies leads you off course


Our shortcut to reveal which workplace problems are fixable


Play the Episode for More
Key Takeaways from This Episode:


Solvable problems build inclusion


“A solvable inclusion problem isn’t something that feels important. It’s something that stands up to scrutiny. It passes what we call the Feasibility Filter: If a problem isn’t Clear, Connected, Commercial, Credible and Causal, it’s not ready to solve.”




Business alignment isn’t optional; it’s essential.


“You don’t need a generic business case for diversity. You need your business case for diversity. What does your problem matter to your specific organisation? If the problem doesn’t link to the business, you’ve got no business talking about it.”




Without cause, there’s no effect.


“If you can’t explain how the problem happens, you can’t fix it. A solvable problem needs a clear explanation of what causes it, when it shows up, and what it leads to if ignored. That’s where a logic model comes in. It maps the cause-and-effect chain that links daily experiences to measurable outcomes.”




Check out these resources :



Business Case in a Box – A course that helps you build a business case your CFO can trust
Progress You Can Prove – A course to help you track and show how your organisation is becoming more inclusive (coming soon)
Evidence Based Inclusion System – A course to help you implement a repeatable, systematic process for inclusion (coming soon)

This is episode 400 of the show.
I’m more excited than I’ve ever been about supporting you.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

Why the podcast now focuses on high-impact inclusion work
Why narrowing my focus increases my overall impact
Some resources I’m building to help you

Play the Episode for More
Key Takeaways from This Episode:

Element of Inclusion has hit 400 episodes

“I notice this in the milestone episodes like this. I can be really tough on myself. The title of Episode 300 was ‘I’m Sorry I Let You Down’… But this year. I’ve made it happen.”


We’re creating a product ecosystem to help you achieve your goals

“I’m building out a product ecosystem to help you if you want to implement this yourself… These are things I’ve already tried and tested in our Inclusion Ready Leader Program. But it’s going to be more affordable because it’s self-paced.”


Check out the shownotes to get on the waiting list

“If you want Business Case in a Box. Or to get on the waiting list for the other products. Check out the shownotes.”



Check out these resources:

Business Case in a Box – A course that helps you build a business case your CFO can trust
Progress You Can Prove – A course to help you track and show how your organisation is becoming more inclusive (coming soon)
Evidence Based Inclusion System – A course to help you implement a repeatable, systematic process for inclusion (coming soon)
Episode 300 : Sorry I Let you down 
* Episode 1: Pilot : 

Do you have a system that proves your inclusion work is making progress?IF NOTI’m going to give you 7 tips that we use with our clients so they show people that that they are becoming more inclusive.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:


How to choose problems your leadership actually cares about


How to design actions that actually improve inclusion


How specific outcomes make your work easier to defend


Play the Episode for More
Key Takeaways from This Episode:


Solve problems your organisation already cares about.


“Too many of you waste effort and energy on issues leadership doesn’t prioritise.”




Clear success metrics make your work harder to ignore.


“Without specifying exactly who you’re supporting and what measurable success looks like, it’s impossible to prove progress.”




Plan inclusion actions like business interventions.


“Without targeted actions tied to clear outcomes, inclusion work is random.”




Check out these resources :
Business Case in a Box: Build a Business Case for Inclusion your CFO will take seriously.
Free 2-minute audit tool: Check if your business case for inclusion would make sense to your CFO.  (Get Access Here)