Our True Colors: Mixed Race Voices and Other Stories of Belonging

Dr. Shawna Gann
  • 5.0 (23)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Monthly

Our True Colors is a podcast about identity, belonging, and life in the in-between. We explore what it means to be mixed race, multiracial, multicultural, racially ambiguous — or to grow up across cultures, through adoption, or in any space where identity doesn’t fit neatly into a box.What’s it like to feel like you fit everywhere yet belong nowhere, all at the same time? If you or someone you love has ever been called a racial riddle, an ethnic enigma, or a cultural conundrum, this show is for you.Each season, host Dr. Shawna Gann — a business psychologist and storyteller — is joined by a new co-host who brings their own lens. Together with guests, they share candid conversations, family stories, and professional insights that remind us we don’t clock in and out of our identities.At its heart, Our True Colors is about connection: creating a space where mixed, multicultural, and cross-cultural voices can be heard, where belonging is explored, and where “otherness” becomes something powerful to claim.Our True Colors is an extension of True Culture Coaching & Consulting, Dr. Gann’s practice dedicated to building stronger, more inclusive workplace cultures. Learn more and connect at www.truecultureconsulting.com

  1. Birds, Belonging, and Becoming with Jamison Schulz-Franco

    2d ago

    Birds, Belonging, and Becoming with Jamison Schulz-Franco

    MESSAGE ME HERE! What does it mean to reconnect with your ancestry when the journey doesn't come with a roadmap? In this episode of *Our True Colors*, Dr. Shawna Gann sits down with storyteller, community organizer, and anti oppression facilitator Jamison Schulz-Franco for a thoughtful conversation about identity, belonging, and the courage to remain curious. Together, they explore what it means to hold multiple cultural identities, reconnect with family history, and embrace the complexities that shape who we are. Rather than searching for simple answers, Jamison shares how listening to family stories, returning to ancestral homelands, and building relationships with people and the natural world have transformed the way they understand themselves. Jamison also shares the inspiring story behind Special Bird Service, a community centered on creating welcoming outdoor spaces for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and queer communities through bird watching and connection to the land. From conversations about migration, oral history, and ancestral memory to reflections on cricket, community, and healing, this episode is an invitation to embrace the richness of our own stories while making space for the stories of others. If you've ever wondered where you belong or how to honor every part of your identity, this conversation offers both encouragement and hope. Jamison Schulz-Franco is a storyteller, community organizer, and anti oppression facilitator whose work centers on community connection and embodied approaches to social justice. Born and raised on the ancestral territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking Peoples in what is now known as Victoria, British Columbia, Jamison's perspective is shaped by their South Indian, German, and Scottish ancestry. They currently work with a local land trust supporting Indigenous led stewardship on Southern Vancouver Island and co founded Special Bird Service, a bird watching community that brings people together through nature, belonging, and care for one another. In this episode, you'll hear about: • Why curiosity can be more powerful than certainty in understanding identity • Reconnecting with ancestry through family stories and lived experience • Creating community through bird watching and relationships with the land • Navigating multiracial identity without forcing it into either or categories • The importance of oral history, belonging, and intergenerational learning If this conversation resonated with you, we'd love to hear what stood out. Leave a review, share this episode with someone who would enjoy it, or connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn at Our True Colors Podcast. Dr. Shawna Gann's upcoming book, *Mixed Signals: The Multiracial Case for Civility and Belonging at Work*, will be released in early Fall. Visit the website to sign up for updates about the book release and other exciting news. Check out some more stuff! The Christian Cooper Chronicles Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper The Blackfoot Wisdom that Inspired Maslow’s Hierarchy If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! Interested in being a guest? Head to this link to share your story with us! Our True Colors is powered by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization, and subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter, The Culture Clinic, for more great content. Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

    41 min
  2. SPECIAL EPISODE: Refusing to Forget: Memory Culture in Action with Dr. Mirjam Rein

    Jun 18

    SPECIAL EPISODE: Refusing to Forget: Memory Culture in Action with Dr. Mirjam Rein

    MESSAGE ME HERE! What does it mean to have civil courage? And what happens when you refuse to forget? In this special episode, Shawna talks with her friend of 35 years, Professor Dr. Mirjam Rein, about an extraordinary project that began with a simple classroom conversation. Students from HTL Mössingerstraße, a technical school in Klagenfurt, Carinthia in the south of Austria, spent months interviewing seven people whose stories embody the meaning of standing up, speaking out, and refusing to look away. Shawna is one of those seven voices. Her story is now on display at the Kärnten Museum (June 17-August 16, 2026), part of an exhibition that speaks directly to the question: How do we remember what our society wants us to forget? In this episode, you'll hear: Why memory culture matters more than everThe concept of mono racism and what it means to exist in liminal spaceHow civil courage lives in small moments (not just big protests)The stories of seven people standing for dignity, respect, and humanity: a refugee who lost everything, a historian reclaiming Holocaust memory, advocates for accessibility and women's safety, a human rights educator, a man honoring his family's resistance, and Shawna's own lived experience at the intersection of identity and belongingThis is a conversation about courage in action, humanity in practice, and the power of listening instead of looking away. Download a companion guide here. Learn more: Stolpersteine (Stumbling Stones) ProjectCode of Courage Podcast (Full Series on Spotify) "The 5 S's of Engagement: Navigating Your Path Through Allyship"If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! Interested in being a guest? Head to this link to share your story with us! Our True Colors is powered by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization, and subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter, The Culture Clinic, for more great content. Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

    31 min
  3. Teressa Plammoottil on Beauty Standards, Culture, and Creating Your Own Village

    May 23

    Teressa Plammoottil on Beauty Standards, Culture, and Creating Your Own Village

    MESSAGE ME HERE! In this episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann and Season 6 cohost Marcel DeJonghe sit down with Teressa Plammoottil, a first generation Indian American whose story explores identity, racial ambiguity, religion, family dynamics, and the complicated search for community. Raised in a traditional South Indian Catholic household and shaped by both life in India and the United States, Teressa reflects on the experience of living between cultures while constantly navigating how others perceive her. Together, they unpack everything from language and representation to beauty standards, colorism, mixed identity assumptions, and the emotional impact of exclusion within one’s own community. Teressa also shares how leaving home as a teenager transformed her understanding of family, belonging, and resilience, ultimately shaping the compassionate and culturally aware person she is today. As a discrimination complaint investigator for the State of California and commissioner on the City of Elk Grove’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission, Teressa brings both lived experience and professional insight to this deeply honest conversation about identity, empathy, and connection. In this episode, you’ll hear:  Why racial ambiguity often creates both curiosity and exclusion  The impact of colorism and Eurocentric beauty standards in South Asian communities  How language can create a sense of home and belonging  What it means to build chosen family after feeling disconnected from your own community  The difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation Dr. Shawna Gann also shares reflections from her ongoing research into mixed identity experiences and belonging. Her upcoming book Mixed Signals: The Multiracial Case for Civility and Belonging at Work releases in early Fall. Visit the website to sign up for updates, book news, and upcoming conversations. Connect with Teressa Plammoottil on Instagram @terenovah Listen, subscribe, and share your thoughts with us. We’d love to hear how this conversation resonated with your own experiences of identity and belonging. If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! Interested in being a guest? Head to this link to share your story with us! Our True Colors is powered by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization, and subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter, The Culture Clinic, for more great content. Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

    51 min
  4. Joshua Grant on Media, Law, and the Fight for Human Dignity

    May 9

    Joshua Grant on Media, Law, and the Fight for Human Dignity

    MESSAGE ME HERE! Five years after his first appearance on the show, Joshua Grant returns for a deeply layered conversation with Dr. Shawna Gann about transitional justice, systemic inequity, activism, media manipulation, and what it means to be human in a time of fractured realities. Together, they unpack how movements born in moments of collective trauma continue shaping communities today, from Minneapolis organizing efforts after George Floyd’s murder to ongoing conversations around race, privilege, identity, and institutional power. Joshua reflects on his experiences studying law and navigating spaces where justice and politics collide, while Dr. Shawna Gann challenges listeners to think critically about propaganda, accountability, and the choices people make in the information age. The episode also explores liminal identity, intersectionality, whiteness as a social construct, and how systems of power shape the stories we tell ourselves about fairness, equality, and belonging. This conversation is thoughtful, emotional, intellectually rigorous, and deeply human. Listeners will hear discussions about: Transitional justice and reconciliationRace and systemic inequity in AmericaMedia algorithms and political polarizationActivism and community care in MinneapolisIntersectionality and liminal identityThe difference between equity and equalityThe role of honesty in social changeIf this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who values courageous conversation and thoughtful dialogue. Subscribe, leave a review, and continue the conversation with us online. If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! Interested in being a guest? Head to this link to share your story with us! Our True Colors is powered by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization, and subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter, The Culture Clinic, for more great content. Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

    43 min
  5. Dr. Marc Johnston-Guerrero on Monoracism, Belonging, and Building Community Beyond Categories

    Apr 22

    Dr. Marc Johnston-Guerrero on Monoracism, Belonging, and Building Community Beyond Categories

    MESSAGE ME HERE! What does it mean to live in between? In this episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann sits down with scholar and thought leader Dr. Marc Johnston-Guerrero for a powerful conversation about liminal identity, multiracial experiences, and the systems that shape how we are seen and understood. From his personal journey navigating identity through something as intimate as his name, to his groundbreaking work defining monoracism, Marc offers language and insight for experiences many people have felt but struggled to name. Together, they explore how identity is shaped not just by who we are, but by the structures around us—from higher education to the workplace. Marc shares how his own experiences led him to study multiraciality, the importance of both specificity and shared experience in research, and why building community often happens later in life or outside traditional spaces. The conversation also dives into leadership, highlighting how navigating complex identities can influence empathy, perspective-taking, and the way we show up in the world. This episode is a reminder that identity doesn’t have to fit neatly into predefined boxes—and that there is real power in embracing complexity, creating space, and building community where it doesn’t yet exist.  Connect and Learn More:  Learn more about the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association   Listen to the episode about the CMRSA Conference   Learn more about Dr. Shawna Gann’s work and sign up for updates on her upcoming book Mixed Signals:  If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who might need it—and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show. If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! Interested in being a guest? Head to this link to share your story with us! Our True Colors is powered by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization, and subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter, The Culture Clinic, for more great content. Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

    45 min
  6. From Vitamin D Deficiency to Fibroids: Closing the Gap with Lauryn Walker

    Apr 16

    From Vitamin D Deficiency to Fibroids: Closing the Gap with Lauryn Walker

    MESSAGE ME HERE! What if something as simple as vitamin D could unlock deeper conversations about health equity, research gaps, and advocacy? In this powerful episode, Dr. Shawna Gann and Season 6 cohost, Marcel DeJonghe, are joined by Lauryn Walker, a patient recruitment associate in clinical research, who is passionate about translating science into real world impact. Together, they explore the link between vitamin D deficiency and racial health disparities, including the disproportionate prevalence of fibroids in Black women and the gaps that still exist in research for mixed heritage populations. Lauryn shares how her academic journey led her to uncover critical insights about vitamin D and fibroids, and why awareness is still so limited even within medical spaces. The conversation expands into real lived experiences, from being dismissed in healthcare settings to the importance of self advocacy, representation, and rebuilding trust. This episode is both eye opening and empowering, offering practical ways to advocate for your health, ask better questions, and support the people in your life. Lauryn Walker is a patient recruitment associate working in clinical research with a background in medical physiology. She is deeply committed to educating her community about vitamin D deficiency and its broader health implications, while promoting more inclusive and representative research practices. Connect with Lauryn: Instagram: @thesunnyvitamin If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! Interested in being a guest? Head to this link to share your story with us! Our True Colors is powered by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization, and subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter, The Culture Clinic, for more great content. Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

    47 min
  7. The Belonging Wound: Raina LaGrand on Identity, Community, and Healing

    Apr 9

    The Belonging Wound: Raina LaGrand on Identity, Community, and Healing

    MESSAGE ME HERE! What does it really mean to belong when your identity doesn’t fit neatly into one box? In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Dr. Shawna Gann and cohost, Marcel DeJonghe, chat with somatic psychotherapist, coach, and educator Raina LaGrand to explore the layered realities of mixed race identity. Together, they unpack the tension between fitting in and truly belonging, the emotional weight of code switching, and the complexity of navigating spaces that were never designed with multiracial people in mind. Raina shares her personal journey, including unexpected discoveries about her ancestry, and how those moments reshaped her understanding of identity, healing, and wholeness. The conversation also dives into what Raina calls the “mixed race belonging wound” and how it shows up in relationships, self-worth, and the ability to take up space. From racialized trauma and complex trauma to the surprising power of community and shared language, this episode is both validating and expansive. Whether you identify as mixed race or simply feel like you exist between worlds, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about identity, connection, and what it means to feel at home in yourself. About Raina LaGrand Raina LaGrand is a somatic psychotherapist, coach, and educator who supports mixed race adults in healing belonging wounds and reconnecting with their innate wholeness. She offers one-on-one and group programs worldwide and maintains a psychotherapy practice in Michigan, where she specializes in complex relational trauma, chronic pain, and racial identity. Raina lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan with her dog, Willa, and enjoys cooking with friends, reading books by women of color authors, and indulging in reality TV. Connect with Raina Instagram: @mixedracebelonging Podcast: Mixed Race Belonging Podcast Website: mixedracebelonging.com Therapy practice: roottorisesomatics.com If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! Interested in being a guest? Head to this link to share your story with us! Our True Colors is powered by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization, and subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter, The Culture Clinic, for more great content. Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

    51 min
  8. Rewriting the Story: Tara Moore on Identity, Healing, and Personal Agency

    Mar 25

    Rewriting the Story: Tara Moore on Identity, Healing, and Personal Agency

    MESSAGE ME HERE! Content note: This episode includes strong language and explores childhood abuse, sexual abuse, and the lasting impact of trauma on identity and self worth. In this powerful and layered conversation, Dr. Shawna Gann and co-host, Marcel De Jonghe sit down with Tara Moore, intuitive coach, empath, energy healer, host of the Rooted & Rising podcast, and founder of Soul’d Spaces. Together, they explore what it means to deconstruct identity, release inherited stories, and rebuild from a place of deeper truth. Tara reflects on growing up mixed race, feeling caught between worlds, and spending years trying to become who others expected her to be before beginning the work of reclaiming her own voice, worth, and sense of self. This episode moves through race, belonging, trauma, motherhood, healing, and the tension between how the world sees us and how we learn to see ourselves. But the conversation does not stop there. In a deeply honest follow up, Shawna and Marcel revisit one of the episode’s central questions: what happens when personal agency meets structural harm? Tara then responds with a vulnerable reflection rooted in her own lived experience of abuse, survival, and the decision to stop cycles of harm in her lineage. What unfolds is not a neat conclusion, but an invitation to stay with complexity, hold multiple truths, and keep asking better questions.  If this episode moves you, share it, subscribe, and send it to someone who values courageous conversations. If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! Interested in being a guest? Head to this link to share your story with us! Our True Colors is powered by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization, and subscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletter, The Culture Clinic, for more great content. Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

    56 min
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5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Our True Colors is a podcast about identity, belonging, and life in the in-between. We explore what it means to be mixed race, multiracial, multicultural, racially ambiguous — or to grow up across cultures, through adoption, or in any space where identity doesn’t fit neatly into a box.What’s it like to feel like you fit everywhere yet belong nowhere, all at the same time? If you or someone you love has ever been called a racial riddle, an ethnic enigma, or a cultural conundrum, this show is for you.Each season, host Dr. Shawna Gann — a business psychologist and storyteller — is joined by a new co-host who brings their own lens. Together with guests, they share candid conversations, family stories, and professional insights that remind us we don’t clock in and out of our identities.At its heart, Our True Colors is about connection: creating a space where mixed, multicultural, and cross-cultural voices can be heard, where belonging is explored, and where “otherness” becomes something powerful to claim.Our True Colors is an extension of True Culture Coaching & Consulting, Dr. Gann’s practice dedicated to building stronger, more inclusive workplace cultures. Learn more and connect at www.truecultureconsulting.com

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