This interview with Chris Hooten, M.A. (they/them) is part of the LGBTQIA+ Workforce Self-Defense and Wellness Series. Tune in to hear Chris discuss intergenerational racial labor trauma, recovery from workplace discrimination, nervous system regulation, and the intersection of race, gender, and neurodiversity. Chris D. Hooten is an award-winning speaker, writer, coach, and educator with over a decade of experience helping clients, including the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden & Glass, Levy Restaurants, American Bar Association Tax Section, and Bastyr University, promote Intersectional Neurodiversity and Gender Safety. Their practice includes comprehensive cultural assessments and analysis, engaging and empathetic keynotes and workshops, accessibility-forward coaching, and solutions to help teams welcome, retain, and sponsor Neurodivergent, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ leaders.

This interview discusses ancestral traumas related to racism, immigration, poverty, and other oppressive factors that impact workplace abuse survivors self-defense and recovery from workplace trauma. Meenadchi 💛 is a somatic healing practitioner and communications expert dedicated to social change and embodied transformation. Her TEDx talk garnered over 20,000 views within two days, and her workbook, "Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication," has sold more than 5,000 copies. Through her work, she challenges us to envision the world we want to build and to take responsibility for forming the relationships that will get us there. Meenadchi is board-certified in Occupational Therapy and has a former clinical practice focused on serious mental illness, complex trauma, and their impacts on daily functioning. Meenadchi currently works with entrepreneurs and values-aligned teams to bring somatic awareness and healthy communication to the workplace, so that work is no longer a place we run from but can be an environment in which we feel proud and motivated to be.

This interview with employment attorney Mahir Nisar explores self-defense strategies for BIPOC and LGBT+ employees facing workplace discrimination. Mr. Nisar is legendary on LinkedIn with his short videos describing concrete self-defense strategies and no-nonsense approach to calling out the abuse tactics that cause workplace trauma. Mahir S. Nisar is the Principal at Nisar Law Group, P.C., a boutique employment litigation firm dedicated to advocating for employees who have experienced workplace discrimination. He is a seasoned civil litigator with a strong reputation for effectively representing clients in employment disputes. Driven by his passion for social justice and his own experiences as a Pakistani Muslim, Mr. Nisar is committed to fighting injustices in the workplace and public accommodations. He envisions a society where individuals are judged by their character and skills, rather than their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. A graduate of The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, Mr. Nisar focused on civil and commercial litigation. He is also a trained life coach and Board Certified Coach (BCC) with the Center for Credential and Education (CCE). Mr. Nisar is an active member of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) and the National Employment Lawyers Association NY Chapter (NELA-NY). He is admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and several U.S. District Courts.

Done with your toxic job but not sure what you can do beyond enduring abuse or quitting? Join this LinkedIn Live interview with Dr. Monica Cox, author of "Never Defeated: Nine Unexpected Lessons from the Workplace Frontlines" to learn alternative options from a woman who prevailed against workplace abuse while also juggling family caregiving during a pandemic and pregnancy in her 40's. While located within academia, the lessons Dr. Cox shares will no doubt resonate across industries and job types. Monica F. Cox, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering at The Ohio State University and is a 2020 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Fellow. She holds degrees in Mathematics (B.S., Spelman College), Industrial Engineering (M.S., University of Alabama), and Leadership and Policy Studies (Ph.D., Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, 2005). She began her academic career in the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University, where she earned a Presidential Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), becoming the first Black woman to earn tenure in Purdue’s College of Engineering. In 2016, she became the Inaugural Chair of the Department of Engineering Education at The Ohio State University. She is the Founder and CEO of STEMinent LLC, which houses educational assessment, professional development, and media offerings. Her research focuses on the use of mixed methodologies to explore questions across the education continuum, particularly why engineering women faculty persist. Dr. Cox has led and collaborated on multidisciplinary projects totaling approximately $16 million and has authored over 130 publications.

This interview with I. David Daniels, PhD, CSD, VPS explores workplace psychosocial hazards in toxic jobs and strategies to create healthier work environments based in psychosocial safety. Dr. I. David Daniels is an occupational health and safety professional, former public safety executive, thought leader, and Founder/CEO of ID2 Solutions, LLC, a safety-focused solutions company specializing in helping organizations plan and execute safety management systems, including focusing on psychosocial hazard mitigation strategies. He hosts the Psych Health and Safety USA podcast and is preparing to release one of the first books focused on psychosocial hazards in 2025. Dr. Daniels' extensive education and certifications and his years of experience make him a trusted expert in the field. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Services Administration, a master’s degree in human resources management, and a Ph.D. in Occupational Health and Safety. His certifications as a Safety Director, Violence Prevention Specialist, Emergency Management Specialist, Job Hazard Analysis Specialist, Safety and Health Specialist, and in Mental Health First Aid further attest to his expertise. He has also honed his skills at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University and Cornell University. Dr. Daniels is not just a professional but a leader in the field. He is the founding chair of the National Association of Black Compliance and Risk Management Professionals, Safety and Security Workgroup, and the Vice Chair of the Society for Total Worker Health Advisory Panel. His two terms further demonstrate his leadership as a member of the National Safety Council (NSC) Board of Directors and his role as the founding chair of the NSC’s Government and Public-Sector Division. In 2021, he became only the third African American in history to receive the NSC’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service to Safety Award. Dr. Daniels is a life member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and served over 30 years in fire/rescue, emergency medical, and emergency management organizations in three states, including four appointments as a Fire Chief. He was the founding chair of the IAFC Safety, Health, and Survival Section and the first safety representative on the IAFC Board of Directors. His career-long focus on safety was one of the factors that led to him becoming the first living African American to be inducted into the National Fire Heritage Center’s Hall of Legacies, Legends, and Leaders.

In episode 96, host Dr. I. David Daniels speaks with Dr. Heliana Ramirez about the “Workplace Battle Fatigue” of workers in toxic workplaces. Workplaces with chronic exposure to psychosocial hazards can be not only psychological but also physically harmful to those exposed. A toxic workplace is one where workers feel psychologically unsafe, disrespected, or threatened. It can include negative behaviors such as bullying, harassment, discrimination, and unethical behavior. Toxic work environments can also lead to burnout, health issues, decreased productivity, and high turnover rates. Those in toxic work environments may experience anxiety, depression, and stress and may take more time off or, in some cases, leave the organization either voluntarily or involuntarily. Dr. Ramirez will share not only her expertise regarding toxic workplaces but also the actual damage these workplaces can cause, particularly to members of marginalized populations.

This interview with the amazing Anti-Racist Psychiatrist Dr. Rupinder Legha, MD discusses her article "Reconsidering calling 911: Is it time to set a new standard for mental health crisis response?" (article link in below comments). Topics of discussion include: 1. Patient needs during mental health emergencies. 2. How existing crisis care practices (e.g., calling 911, physical and medical restraint) injure patients, and especially Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) patients. 3. Benefits and risks of mental health providers disclosing personal mental health experiences. Dr. Legha graduated with honors from Harvard Medical School and climbed the ranks of medical academia at top institutions nationwide before quitting it all in late 2020 to start a business. Dr. Legha advances health equity on her own terms--with joy, humor, abundance, and style. As the president of Rupinder K Legha MD, PC she offers transformative antiracism education and clinical services. The Antiracism in Mental Health Fellowship is a first-of-its-kind educational experience for healthcare providers committed to health equity but unsure of what to do during clinical care. It features a goldmine of priceless information that does not exist anywhere else. 30 lecture recordings (valued at over $60,000) based on two decades of research, scholarship, and lived experience pertaining to racism, antiracism, and health equity. Add to that 1:1 breakthrough sessions where people transform their careers and lives and powerful strategy and collective-building sessions with like-minded peers. Enroll NOW! https://lnkd.in/geV34-mg Her one-of-a-kind psychiatric services are available to children, adults, and families throughout the nation (CA, CO, NY, NJ, NM). Dr. Legha specializes in providing holistic psychiatric services that avoid coercion and force and prevent medical trauma while protecting people against systems of oppression. Instead of medicating symptoms, she identifies root causes of suffering so the healing is more sustained. Most of the people she works with say they have never worked with a psychiatrist like her and that the standard she sets as a doctor makes it impossible for any other doctor to meet their expectations(!). www.rupileghamd.com To her mom, dad, and family, she is just Rupi (Rupinder if in trouble!). A daughter of Punjabi-Sikh immigrants. A mom to the cutest long-haired doxies on earth. An aunty (bio and chosen) to several treasured children. A psychiatric fairy godmother to many more. Her activism is as fierce as her fashion.

Liz Cruz (she/they) is a leadership coach who specializes in helping queer folks build radical leadership confidence. Before leading her practice, Liz spent over 10 years in the corporate world as a coach, leadership development program leader, and organizational effectiveness consultant. A leadership development practitioner to the core, you’ll find Liz coaching individuals and teams, facilitating, nerding out about EQ, or ruminating on wholehearted leadership over a cup of (decaf) coffee. Liz’s approach is informed by her deeply held belief that each of us is inherently brilliant and that the best solutions to our leadership challenges are found in our deep knowledge of ourselves. She is an eternal optimist, a queer leadership fanatic, a frequent teller of not-that-funny jokes, a lifelong artist (current love: watercolor), relentlessly curious, a deep empath, and despite all outward appearances, definitely an introvert.