Diversity Disconnect Podcast

Introducing the Diversity Disconnect Podcast

From Free Rein Associates and Life Strategies comes the Diversity Disconnect Podcast. Tasked with exploring the helping and hindering factors in job acquisition and employment maintenance for underrepresented groups, the research team spent six months engaging with five rural B.C. communities. They sought to hear stories of employment success, challenges, and ideas for change from job seekers, employees, employers, and support workers.
This limited series explores the findings of the Diversity Disconnect research and examines the 20 factors that influence employment success. You’ll hear from the research team directly, and you’ll hear real quotes from the research participants they spoke with.
Launching January 8, 2025, you can listen to Diversity Disconnect wherever you find podcasts.
 
Links
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success

Rural Employer Seeks Perfect Employee Match - Episode 01

After hearing from the diverse residents of Agassiz, Hope, Princeton, Merritt, and Ashcroft, the Diversity Disconnect research team identified 20 factors that influence employment success. Whether you’re a job seeker or employee from an underrepresented group, an employer small or large, or a member of a small, rural community, it’s important to understand how these factors impact your life and the lives of those around you. Empowering yourself with this knowledge will help to improve your local economy, foster inclusive workplaces for all, and spark change for people with diverse abilities and Indigenous Peoples.
 
In this episode, meet the Diversity Disconnect team: Madeleine, Emily, Cassie, and Desiree. You’ll also be introduced to Jordan, Shane, George, and Alex, the four characters who represent the research participants of Diversity Disconnect.
 
We’ll also introduce five of the 20 factors that impact workplace success and how they impact employment and the success of rural communities.
 
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Research Report to support the launch of Skills For Success: Structure, evidence, and recommendations. May 2021 SRDC
Canada – A learning nation: A skilled, agile workforce ready to shape the future
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
 
With Guests
Madeleine WarkentinEmily WhiteCassie TaylorDesiree Carlson
Staring:
Megan te Boekhorst as JordanDiana King as ShanePeter Bailey as GeorgeHarmony Toth as Alex
 
Hosted by Mallory TomlinsonProduced by Megan te BoekhorstAudio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
 
Success Factors Examined:
Opportunities
Training/Learning
Accessibility/Accommodation
Flexibility
Connections

New Skills On The Block: Bringing The Right Stuff For Success - Episode 02

What does it take to find success? Whether you’re a job seeker, employee, employer, or part of a community group, it often comes down to the unique combination of skills available to meet your goals.
 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
About the essential skills everyone benefit from developing – including the Skills for Success
The value collaboration brings to a community
How interpersonal skills impact employment success
 
 
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
 
With Guests
Madeleine Warkentin
Emily White
Cassie Taylor
Desiree Carlson
 
Staring:
Megan te Boekhorst as Jordan
Diana King as Shane
Peter Bailey as George
Harmony Toth as Alex
 
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
 
Funded by the Government of Canada
 
Success Factors Examined:
Communication
Collaboration
Interpersonal Skills

Walking Through Spiderwebs: The Discomfort Of Change – Episode 03

Inclusive, equitable diversity in the workplace requires accepting that you’ll experience moments of discomfort. Growth and discomfort often walk hand in hand.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
About some of the challenges you need to prepare for in building an inclusive workplace
How gaining awareness of barriers faced by marginalized groups will help you be a better manager and employer
Why all employers need to keep a trauma-informed lens
Links
Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
 
With GuestsMadeleine WarkentinEmily WhiteCassie TaylorDesiree Carlson
 
Staring:Megan te Boekhorst as JordanDiana King as ShanePeter Bailey as GeorgeHarmony Toth as Alex
 
Hosted by Mallory TomlinsonProduced by Megan te BoekhorstAudio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
 
Funded by the Government of Canada
Success Factors Examined:
Awareness
Respect
Discrimination
Bureaucracy

The Transportation Paradox: Disconnect Between Employer Expectation and Rural Realities - Episode 04

For this week’s episode, the team shares the most shocking disconnect between rural employers and the people they hire. We also dive into the importance of workplace environments, the role our financial realities play in our employment success, and the unique challenges faced by rural communities specifically.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How employers can make a difference in employment success by helping to solve one problem
What it means to have a healthy work environment
How unique rural challenges can often be left out of the equation – and how that impacts program success
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
With GuestsMadeleine WarkentinEmily WhiteCassie TaylorDesiree Carlson
Staring:Megan te Boekhorst as JordanDiana King as ShanePeter Bailey as GeorgeHarmony Toth as Alex
 
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
Funded by the Government of Canada
 
Success Factors Examined:
Transportation
Work Environments
Financial
Rural Realities

We’re All In This Together - Episode 05

The bonds that tie your community together can have a major influence in your success. Knowing who your neighbours are, authentically, and what motivates them can help to strengthen those bonds. And when people, workplaces, and communities allow for that authentic connection, you are empowered to find your right fit.
 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why it’s important for communities to work together, especially if you live in a rural and remote region
How understanding your motivation (and the motivation of your team and colleagues) can significantly improve your workplace
What it means to allow for authenticity in the workplace in order to ensure strong fit
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
 
With GuestsMadeleine WarkentinEmily WhiteCassie TaylorDesiree Carlson
 
Staring:Megan te Boekhorst as JordanDiana King as ShanePeter Bailey as GeorgeHarmony Toth as Alex
 
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
Funded by the Government of Canada
Success Factors Examined:
Community
Motivation
Authenticity
Fit

So What Now? - Episode 06

The researchers of Diversity Disconnect sit down to discuss the lessons learned, recommendations put forward, and next steps for creating inclusive, diverse communities in rural and remote regions.
 
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
 
With GuestsMadeleine WarkentinEmily WhiteCassie Taylor
 
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
 
Funded by the Government of Canada

Tales From The Road - Bonus Episode 01

Please note: this episode does end suddenly and unexpectedly. Due to a production error, the final three questions of this episode were unfortunately unusable. 
Go behind the scenes of the research and hear from the Diversity Disconnect road team!
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
 
With Guests
Desiree CarlsonMegan te BoekhorstMadeleine WarkentinEmily White
 
 
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
 
Funded by the Government of Canada

Building Inclusive Teams - Bonus Episode 02

From the proposal phase of this project, Free Rein Associates knew it would specifically look to hire a diverse team that shared the experiences and challenges faced by our research participants. Mallory sits down with the team to share how that decision impacted the project and the difference it made in the lives of each team member.
 
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
 
With GuestsPeter BaileyMegan te BoekhorstEmily WhiteMadeleine Warkentin
 
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
 
Funded by the Government of Canada