The Audacity Tapes™

Robbin Jorgensen
  • 4.6 (9)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

The Audacity Tapes™ is a long-form podcast exploring what happens when conviction becomes non-negotiable. These are not surface interviews. They are deep, unfiltered dialogues about the moments that demanded courage — the decisions that disrupted comfort — and the belief systems that refused to bend. Hosted by Robbin Jorgensen, Founder & CEO of Women Igniting Change®, each episode examines the moments that reshaped identity, demanded courage, and forced a choice. What unites them is not title or platform — it’s moral clarity under pressure. Formerly the Women Igniting Change® Podcast, this evolution reflects what has always been at the heart of these conversations: the audacity to imagine a better world — and the discipline to build it. Our guests come from different paths and lived experiences, but they share one thing: a refusal to look away. These conversations won’t just inspire you — they will recalibrate you. They invite you to examine your own convictions and take the next step toward the change that’s calling. New episodes every Monday. With listeners in 41 countries, The Audacity Tapes™ is a global platform exploring the moments that demand courage, conviction, and the audacity to choose differently.

  1. 2d ago

    The Declaration On Gender Apartheid: Karima Bennoune and Zarqa Yaftali Refuse to Normalize the Unacceptable

    Five years after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, the world risks becoming accustomed to what should never be acceptable. Professor Karima Bennoune and women rights defender in Afghanistan Zarqa Yaftali discuss the newly launched International Declaration on Gender Apartheid and Its Destructive Consequences, why naming gender apartheid matters, and how the Declaration can become a tool for action. The conversation explores the international community’s growing normalization of the Taliban, the moral conviction behind their work, and why what is happening in Afghanistan is a warning for women everywhere. In This Episode What Afghan women and girls are experiencing five years into Taliban rule The history and legal meaning of gender apartheid Why the International Declaration on Gender Apartheid was created How international law can become leverage for women on the ground The danger of normalizing the Taliban and gender apartheid The personal roots of Karima and Zarqa’s moral conviction Why Afghanistan is a warning for women’s rights globally What meaningful solidarity and practical action look like now Key Moments 00:00 – Introduction: Karima Bennoune & Zarqa Yaftali 01:42 – Zarqa’s Story: Growing Up Under Taliban Rule 09:13 – Karima’s Story: The Inheritance of Moral Conviction 12:53 – Five Years Later: What Has the World Stopped Seeing? 17:23 – Why We Must Name Gender Apartheid 33:00 – The Declaration Against Gender Apartheid 45:06 – Where Does Moral Conviction Come From? 51:35 – Are We Normalizing the Taliban? 1:02:02 – Afghanistan Is a Warning: What the World Must Do Now About Karima Bennoune Professor Karima Bennoune is an internationally recognized human rights lawyer and the Lewis M. Simes Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School. She served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights from 2015–2021 and has spent decades working at the intersection of international law, women's human rights, cultural rights and fundamentalism. She chaired the drafting group behind the International Declaration on Gender Apartheid and Its Destructive Consequences and is the author of Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here: Untold Stories from the Fight Against Muslim Fundamentalism. About Zarqa Yaftali Zarqa Yaftali is a women rights defender in Afghanistan, Founder and Executive Director of the Women and Children Research and Advocacy Network, and a 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity honoree. Her advocacy is rooted in lived experience. As a teenager during the first Taliban regime, Zarqa attended an underground school established by her mother after girls were prohibited from attending school. Today, from exile, she continues working to advance education, freedom and human rights for Afghan women and girls, including efforts to provide online educational opportunities to girls inside Afghanistan. Resources Karima spoke during the conversation about the profound influence of her father, Mahfoud Bennoune, an Algerian professor, anthropologist and outspoken opponent of fundamentalism. His work and legacy are preserved online: www.mahfoudbennoune.com Take Action The launch of the International Declaration on Gender Apartheid and Its Destructive Consequences is not the end of the work. It's the beginning. Karima and Zarqa call on women human rights defenders, civil society organizations, governments, scholars, jurists, journalists and concerned people everywhere to use the Declaration: share it, translate it, build advocacy tools around it, convene conversations about it and help keep the rights of Afghan women on the international agenda. https://www.genderapartheiddeclaration.org/ Continue the Conversation The thinking continues beyond the mic. Explore essays, reflections, and extended conversations on Substack: https://substack.com/@robbinjorgensen Connect with Robbin Jorgensen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinjorgensen/ Supporting Sponsor As a woman navigating financial decisions — especially when the system wasn’t built with you in mind — having the right partner matters. For three decades, Godfrey Financial has intentionally centered women in financial decision-making — not as an afterthought, but as leaders. In a field where women are often expected to sit to the side, Godfrey Financial places women at the head of the table — creating space where women don’t just discuss confidence and agency, but experience it in practice. Learn more at: https://godfreyfinancial.com

  2. Aug 10

    The Economy Isn't Broken. It Was Built This Way: Saru Jayaraman on Power, Wages, and Democracy

    Episode Description What if one of the most fundamental assumptions about our economy is wrong? For more than 25 years, Saru Jayaraman has challenged the systems that determine who gets paid, who holds power, and whose work is valued. At the center of that fight is a staggering reality: the federal tipped minimum wage remains just $2.13 an hour, unchanged since 1991. But this conversation goes far beyond tipping. Saru traces the history of a wage system rooted in slavery and emancipation, challenges the belief that higher wages hurt business, and reveals what decades of organizing have taught her about concentrated power and the personal cost of confronting it. Together, we explore the connection between economic insecurity and democracy, the difference between a minimum wage and a living wage, and a question with implications far beyond the restaurant industry: What happens when people no longer believe the economy or democracy is working for them? In This Episode, We Talk About... The history behind America's $2.13 tipped minimum wage and why it hasn't changed since 1991 What seven states reveal about the argument that higher wages destroy restaurant economies The Denny's shareholder call that exposed a startling contradiction about wages and business growth Why the fight has shifted from minimum wage to living wage The connection between economic insecurity, power, and people's faith in democracy What Saru and her family have endured for challenging one of America's most powerful lobbying forces Why, after more than 25 years, she still believes transformational change is possible Key Moments 00:00 Introduction 01:36 Rethinking Our Economy, Democracy, and Humanity 03:48 The History Behind America’s Tipped Wage System 07:51 What We’ve Gotten Wrong About Economics 12:28 Why the Tipped Wage Is Still $2.13 15:02 What Happens When States Pay a Full Minimum Wage 17:45 The Denny’s Revelation and the Economics of Higher Wages 23:06 What Has Democracy Done for You Lately? 35:02 When Challenging Power Becomes Dangerous About Saru Jayaraman Saru Jayaraman is an attorney, author, researcher, organizer, and one of the country's leading advocates for restaurant and service workers. She is the co-founder of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United and president of One Fair Wage, where she has spent more than two decades organizing workers and challenging the subminimum wage system. Named one of New York magazine's "Influentials," a CNN Visionary Woman, and a White House Champion of Change, Saru's work sits at the intersection of economic justice, gender, race, power, and democracy. Her forthcoming book, What Has Democracy Done for You Lately?, explores the growing connection between economic insecurity and people's faith in democratic institutions. Throughout her work, Saru argues for an economy in which people are able not simply to survive, but to thrive. Connect with Saru Jayaraman One Fair Wage Saru Jayaraman Saru's new book: https://thenewpress.org/books/what-has-democracy-done-for-me-lately/ Take Action: Join the Living Wage for All Movement Your voice can help change what work is worth in America. Living Wage for All is building a national movement to ensure that no one working full-time is forced to live in poverty. This is about more than raising wages. It is about giving millions of people greater economic security, strengthening communities, and building an economy that works because more people have the ability to participate in it. Add your voice. Contact your members of Congress. Help build the political power necessary to make a living wage a reality for every worker in America. https://livingwageforall.org/ Continue the Conversation The thinking continues beyond the mic. Explore essays, reflections, and extended conversations on Substack: https://substack.com/@robbinjorgensen Connect with Robbin Jorgensen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinjorgensen/ Supporting Sponsor As a woman navigating financial decisions — especially when the system wasn’t built with you in mind — having the right partner matters. For three decades, Godfrey Financial has intentionally centered women in financial decision-making — not as an afterthought, but as leaders. In a field where women are often expected to sit to the side, Godfrey Financial places women at the head of the table — creating space where women don’t just discuss confidence and agency, but experience it in practice. Learn more at: https://godfreyfinancial.com

  3. Aug 3

    The Audacity to Lead with Love: Heather Robertson Fortner on Integrity, Generosity, and Living What You Believe

    Episode Description What does it really mean to lead with integrity? For Heather Robertson Fortner, leadership isn't measured solely by performance, profit, or position. It's measured by congruence: the alignment between what we say we value and how we choose to live, lead, and serve. As CEO of SignatureFD, Heather has challenged the traditional assumptions of business leadership by building a culture grounded in generosity, authenticity, and the belief that love belongs in leadership. In this conversation, we explore what happens when success is no longer the goal, but the byproduct of living your values. Together, we examine the relationship between identity and achievement, why generosity must begin with ourselves before it extends outward, how motherhood reshaped Heather's understanding of purpose, and why the greatest legacy any leader leaves behind is the example they set for others. This is a conversation about choosing integrity over image, generosity over scarcity, and becoming the person you hope others believe you already are. In This Episode, We Talk About... Why Heather believes leadership begins with congruence between values and actions How redefining success transformed both her leadership and her life The role generosity plays in building healthy organizations and stronger communities Why leading with love requires courage—not weakness How becoming a mother reshaped her understanding of identity and achievement The importance of creating workplaces where people genuinely belong Why your legacy is built through everyday decisions, not extraordinary moments How living what you believe influences the next generation Key Moments 00:00 Introduction 02:14 Defining Leadership Through Values 08:42 Identity Beyond Achievement 15:36 Why Congruence Matters 23:11 Generosity as a Leadership Practice 31:04 Creating Cultures of Belonging 40:28 The Legacy We Leave Our Children 48:15 Leading with Love About Heather Robertson Fortner Heather Robertson Fortner is the CEO of SignatureFD, a nationally recognized wealth management firm known for its people-first culture and values-driven approach to leadership. Throughout her career, Heather has championed the belief that authentic leadership is rooted in integrity, generosity, and genuine human connection. A sought-after speaker and advocate for values-based leadership, she has challenged conventional business thinking by demonstrating that organizations can pursue both exceptional performance and extraordinary care for people. Her work continues to inspire leaders to align their actions with their deepest convictions while building cultures where individuals and communities can thrive. Connect with Heather Robertson Fortner https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherfortner/ https://signaturefd.com/ Continue the Conversation The thinking continues beyond the mic. Explore essays, reflections, and extended conversations on Substack: https://substack.com/@robbinjorgensen Connect with Robbin Jorgensen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinjorgensen/ Supporting Sponsor As a woman navigating financial decisions — especially when the system wasn’t built with you in mind — having the right partner matters. For three decades, Godfrey Financial has intentionally centered women in financial decision-making — not as an afterthought, but as leaders. In a field where women are often expected to sit to the side, Godfrey Financial places women at the head of the table — creating space where women don’t just discuss confidence and agency, but experience it in practice. Learn more at: https://godfreyfinancial.com

  4. Jul 27

    The Power of Proximity: Rachel Kara Lim on How Lived Experience Shapes Conviction and Moral Courage

    Episode Description What transforms an observer into an activist? For Rachel Kara Lim, it wasn't a textbook. It wasn't a classroom. It wasn't a headline. It was proximity. At just 24 years old, Rachel has become one of Canada's emerging voices in human rights, Indigenous solidarity, climate justice, and anti-colonial movements. In this conversation, she explores why lived experience changes us in ways education alone cannot—and why moving closer to people, communities, and injustice fundamentally reshapes who we become. Together, we explore the difference between awareness and transformation, why some people rearrange their lives around injustice while others walk away, the limits of traditional education, the evolving meaning of moral courage, and why hope is still possible even in an era defined by overlapping global crises. This is a conversation about choosing proximity over distance, conviction over comfort, and humanity over indifference. In This Episode, We Talk About... Why Rachel believes education often teaches analysis more effectively than action How spending time alongside Indigenous communities transformed her understanding of justice The difference between empathy that feels and empathy that moves us to act Why moral courage isn't reserved for extraordinary people How today's generation is navigating multiple overlapping crises at once The challenges facing the global human rights movement Why community—not individual heroism—is at the heart of lasting social change How to resist cynicism while confronting the world's hardest realities Key Moments 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Where Conviction Begins 05:27 The Power of Proximity 12:05 Education Beyond Awareness 16:00 Why Some People Act—and Others Don't 25:30 The Practice of Moral Courage 33:19 Growing Up in a Polycrisis 41:39 What History Will Say About Us 46:06 A Final Call to Action About Rachel Kara Lim Rachel Kara Lim is a Hakka Malaysian activist, human rights educator, researcher, and political scientist based in Canada. Her work focuses on Indigenous sovereignty, climate justice, anti-colonial movements, and international human rights, with a particular emphasis on the power of community, lived experience, and transformative education. Through research, advocacy, public speaking, and creative storytelling, Rachel challenges conventional approaches to justice while exploring how relationships, empathy, and collective action can drive meaningful social change. At just 24 years old, she is an emerging voice whose work bridges scholarship and activism with remarkable moral clarity. Connect with Rachel Kara Kim https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelklim/ https://blog.castac.org/author/rachellim/ Continue the Conversation The thinking continues beyond the mic. Explore essays, reflections, and extended conversations on Substack: https://substack.com/@robbinjorgensen Connect with Robbin Jorgensen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinjorgensen/ Supporting Sponsor As a woman navigating financial decisions — especially when the system wasn’t built with you in mind — having the right partner matters. For three decades, Godfrey Financial has intentionally centered women in financial decision-making — not as an afterthought, but as leaders. In a field where women are often expected to sit to the side, Godfrey Financial places women at the head of the table — creating space where women don’t just discuss confidence and agency, but experience it in practice. Learn more at: https://godfreyfinancial.com

  5. Jul 20

    The Economics of Dignity: Karen Sherman on Voice, Choice, and Lasting Change

    Episode Summary What does it really take to create lasting social change? For more than three decades, Karen Sherman has worked alongside women rebuilding their lives after war, conflict, and crisis in some of the world's most challenging environments. From the former Soviet Union to Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and more, she has witnessed firsthand the extraordinary resilience of women determined to create better futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. In this episode of The Audacity Tapes, Karen shares why sustainable change begins with local leadership, why economic opportunity is one of the most powerful forces for human dignity, and how her work eventually led her to found Virunga Mountain Spirits, a pioneering craft distillery in Rwanda creating jobs and economic opportunity for women. Together, we explore the intersection of dignity, economic empowerment, optimism, and moral courage—and why changing one woman's life can ultimately change the world. In This Episode, We Talk About... Why women consistently reinvest in their families and communities The universal challenges women face across cultures, conflicts, and countries Why sustainable development must be led by local women—not imposed from the outside The story behind Karen's memoir, Brick by Brick, and why vulnerability became part of her leadership journey The powerful distinction between giving women voice through education and choice through economic opportunity How Virunga Mountain Spirits is creating jobs and sustainable economic development in Rwanda Why optimism is essential for anyone committed to creating lasting social change The role men play as allies in advancing gender equality How each of us can begin creating meaningful change—one person at a time Key Moments 00:00 Introduction 01:06 Karen's journey into global women's rights advocacy 05:08 Why lasting change must be led by local women 07:05 The story behind Brick by Brick 12:11 Education gives women voice. Income gives women choice. 14:06 Building Virunga Mountain Spirits in Rwanda 22:04 Finding your own path to creating change 27:13 Why men are essential allies for gender equality 29:34 Why optimism is the foundation of lasting social change About Karen Sherman Karen Sherman is an international women's rights advocate, entrepreneur, author, and speaker with more than three decades of experience partnering with women survivors of war around the world. She is the founder of Virunga Mountain Spirits, a pioneering craft distillery in Rwanda creating economic opportunity for women, and the author of Brick by Brick: Building Hope and Opportunity for Women Survivors Everywhere. Karen has been featured by the BBC, CNBC Africa, Al Jazeera English, the Council on Foreign Relations, and numerous international media outlets. She also served as executive producer of the National Geographic documentary The Other Side of War: Women's Stories of Survival and Hope. Connect with Karen Sherman Bio: https://www.karensherman.org/about Book - Brick by Brick: https://www.karensherman.org/brick-by-brick Virunga Mountain Spirits: https://www.karensherman.org/virunga-mountain-spirits Continue the Conversation The thinking continues beyond the mic. Explore essays, reflections, and extended conversations on Substack: https://substack.com/@robbinjorgensen Connect with Robbin Jorgensen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinjorgensen/ Supporting Sponsor As a woman navigating financial decisions — especially when the system wasn’t built with you in mind — having the right partner matters. For three decades, Godfrey Financial has intentionally centered women in financial decision-making — not as an afterthought, but as leaders. In a field where women are often expected to sit to the side, Godfrey Financial places women at the head of the table — creating space where women don’t just discuss confidence and agency, but experience it in practice. Learn more at: https://godfreyfinancial.com

  6. Jul 13

    The Moral Case for Food: Ambassador Ertharin Cousin on Hunger, Dignity, and Systems Change

    Episode Summary What if hunger isn't fundamentally a food problem? What if it's a moral one? In this powerful conversation, former Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme and former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Ambassador Ertharin Cousin challenges us to rethink one of the world's most persistent crises. This episode is not simply about feeding people. It is about the systems we build, the policies we prioritize, the investments we make, and the values those decisions reveal. Drawing on decades of global leadership, Ambassador Cousin explains why food security cannot be separated from public health, economic opportunity, climate resilience, education, and human dignity. She shares why ending hunger requires far more than humanitarian aid. It demands long-term systems change, innovative partnerships, local leadership, measurable outcomes, and the political courage to invest differently. From groundbreaking work in Rwanda to expanding access to nutritious food in underserved communities across the United States, she illustrates how sustainable solutions emerge when governments, businesses, investors, and communities work together rather than in isolation. Along the way, she offers a compelling vision of leadership rooted in character, integrity, collaboration, and the willingness to listen before acting. Whether discussing global climate negotiations, agricultural policy, or neighborhood food banks, Ambassador Cousin continually returns to one central truth: lasting change begins by recognizing the humanity of the people these systems are meant to serve. We talk about: Why hunger is ultimately a systems challenge—not simply a food challenge The connection between food security, health, climate, and economic development What Rwanda is teaching the world about sustainable food innovation Why measuring impact is essential to creating lasting change How policy, investment, and private capital must work together Why communities already possess many of the solutions they need The leadership principles that have guided Ambassador Cousin throughout her career Practical ways every person can strengthen food security within their own community Key Moments 1:19 — The childhood that shaped a lifetime of fighting hunger 10:53 — Why recognizing the right to food changed global policy 12:41 — The leadership qualities that matter most 22:06 — Rwanda's innovative solution to child malnutrition 29:56 — America's "grocery deserts" and the hidden reality of food insecurity 34:23 — Why food systems belong at the center of the climate conversation 38:26 — The policy changes needed to transform food security 43:16 — Ambassador Cousin's advice for women who want to create global impact 48:21 — Where every one of us can begin About Ambassador Ertharin Cousin Ambassador Ertharin Cousin is Founder and CEO of Food Systems for the Future, an organization dedicated to building healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable food systems around the world. She previously served as Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger, where she led emergency food assistance efforts for more than 80 million people annually across more than 75 countries. Earlier, she served as the United States Ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome. Named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People, one of Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women, and one of Foreign Policy's 500 Most Powerful People on the Planet, Ambassador Cousin continues to advise governments, investors, businesses, and international organizations on creating food systems that improve nutrition, strengthen economies, and build long-term resilience. Connect with Ambassador Ertharin Cousin Food Systems for the Future https://www.fsfinstitute.net LinkedIn https://substack.com/@robbinjorgensen Connect with Robbin Jorgensen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinjorgensen/ Supporting Sponsor As a woman navigating financial decisions — especially when the system wasn’t built with you in mind — having the right partner matters. For three decades, Godfrey Financial has intentionally centered women in financial decision-making — not as an afterthought, but as leaders. In a field where women are often expected to sit to the side, Godfrey Financial places women at the head of the table — creating space where women don’t just discuss confidence and agency, but experience it in practice. Learn more at: https://godfreyfinancial.com

  7. Jul 6

    Race Doesn't End the Conversation. Silence Does: How Dissonance Was Born

    Episode Description The murder of George Floyd forced millions of Americans to confront questions they had long avoided. While much of the country retreated into outrage, silence, or division, playwrights Marci Duncan and Kerry Sandell made a different choice. One Black woman. One white woman. Two longtime friends. They sat down and committed to having the conversation. What began as an honest dialogue about race, motherhood, fear, privilege, identity, and trust became Dissonance—a powerful stage play that has challenged audiences across the country to confront not only what divides us, but what becomes possible when we refuse to let silence have the final word. In this deeply personal conversation, Marci and Kerry share the real stories behind the play: the conversations they were having with their sons, the assumptions they each had to confront, the trust they had to build, and the emotional cost of telling the truth out loud. This isn't a conversation about politics. It's a conversation about moral courage. About listening before defending. About speaking with the intention to understand instead of to win. And about why silence—not disagreement—is often what keeps us divided. Whether you've seen Dissonance or are hearing its story for the first time, this episode is an invitation to consider what becomes possible when honesty is grounded in relationship, humility, and love. In This Episode How George Floyd became the catalyst for a transformative creative partnership Why two women chose conversation instead of silence The unseen differences between raising black and white sons in America What honest friendship requires when difficult truths emerge How Dissonance was written from real conversations—not imagined ones Why audiences across the country consistently leave with hope The role art can play in creating empathy where debate often fails Key Moments 03:09 — The conversation that became Dissonance 05:00 — The different realities of raising black and white sons in America 11:51 — Building trust before writing a single scene 16:42 — What each woman discovered about herself through honest dialogue 19:36 — Why audiences leave with more hope than division 29:31 — The emotional cost of performing the truth 36:06 — Why every performance ends with a community conversation 40:41 — The one question to ask before having any difficult conversation 45:25 — Their vision for taking Dissonance to the world About Our Guests Marci Duncan is an actor, playwright, director, and educator serving as Director of the Acting Program at the University of West Florida. Her work explores identity, truth, and the power of storytelling to create healing and human connection. Kerry Sandell is an actor, playwright, and communication strategist with degrees in theatre performance and strategic communication. Through performance and education, she helps audiences navigate difficult conversations with honesty, empathy, and courage. Together, they co-created Dissonance, a nationally acclaimed stage play inspired by the conversations they chose to have in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder. Through live performance and audience dialogue, Dissonance continues to challenge assumptions, deepen understanding, and demonstrate that difficult conversations can become catalysts for connection rather than division. Connect with Marci Duncan and Kerry Sandell: https://dissonanceplay.com/ https://dissonanceplay.com/team Continue the Conversation The thinking continues beyond the mic. Explore essays, reflections, and extended conversations on Substack: https://substack.com/@robbinjorgensen Connect with Robbin Jorgensen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinjorgensen/ Supporting Sponsor As a woman navigating financial decisions — especially when the system wasn’t built with you in mind — having the right partner matters. For three decades, Godfrey Financial has intentionally centered women in financial decision-making — not as an afterthought, but as leaders. In a field where women are often expected to sit to the side, Godfrey Financial places women at the head of the table — creating space where women don’t just discuss confidence and agency, but experience it in practice. Learn more at: https://godfreyfinancial.com

  8. Jun 29

    Challenging What We Never Questioned: Nikki Lanier on Belief, Grace, and Changing Systems

    Episode Summary What if the biggest barriers to change aren't policies or procedures, but the beliefs we carry without even realizing it? In this conversation, I sit down with race equity strategist and Harper Slade CEO Nikki Lanier for a thoughtful discussion about leadership, racial equity, and the role each of us plays in creating workplaces where people can truly thrive. Drawing from her experience as an attorney, former HR executive, Federal Reserve leader, and advisor to organizations across the country, Nikki challenges conventional approaches to DEI by shifting the focus away from compliance and toward the underlying beliefs that shape our decisions, relationships, and organizations. We explore why courageous conversations matter, why changing systems begins with changing ourselves, and why the future of our organizations depends on our willingness to lead differently. Whether you're an executive, people leader, entrepreneur, or simply someone committed to building a better future, this conversation offers a perspective that is both thoughtful and deeply human. In This Episode Why beliefs—not behaviors—are the true starting point for lasting organizational change The difference between creating a "safe space" and creating a courageous one How unconscious assumptions shape workplace culture What organizations often discover when they take an honest look at racial equity Why Nikki believes racial equity is not only a moral issue—but an economic one The importance of leading with grace instead of shame How women can influence meaningful change both inside organizations and within their own communities Practical ways leaders can begin creating more equitable workplaces Key Moments 00:00 – Introduction 1:06 – The experiences that shaped Nikki's passion for racial equity, from her upbringing to law, HR, and economics 6:16 – Why lasting organizational change begins by challenging beliefs, not just changing behaviors 11:50 – Inside the Racial Equity Index and what organizations often discover about workplace experiences they never intended to create 18:38 – Why success in equity work can't be measured by traditional ROI alone 22:48 – The economic case for racial equity and why the next two decades matter more than most leaders realize 30:10 – The RAARE Woman Collective and empowering women to lead courageous conversations beyond the workplace 35:15 – Leading with grace instead of shame: Nikki's philosophy for creating meaningful change 43:00 – The story behind Harper Slade and the legacy that continues to inspire Nikki's work Connect with Nikki Lanier Website: https://www.harperslade.com/ Nikki’s personal website:  www.nikkilanier.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-nikki-r-6a106a8/ RAARE Woman Collective:  https://www.raarewomancollective.com/ Federal Reserve of San Francisco Report:  The Economic Gains From Equity Continue the Conversation The thinking continues beyond the mic. Explore essays, reflections, and extended conversations on Substack: https://substack.com/@robbinjorgensen Connect with Robbin Jorgensen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinjorgensen/ Supporting Sponsor As a woman navigating financial decisions — especially when the system wasn’t built with you in mind — having the right partner matters. For three decades, Godfrey Financial has intentionally centered women in financial decision-making — not as an afterthought, but as leaders. In a field where women are often expected to sit to the side, Godfrey Financial places women at the head of the table — creating space where women don’t just discuss confidence and agency, but experience it in practice. Learn more at: https://godfreyfinancial.com

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4.6
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The Audacity Tapes™ is a long-form podcast exploring what happens when conviction becomes non-negotiable. These are not surface interviews. They are deep, unfiltered dialogues about the moments that demanded courage — the decisions that disrupted comfort — and the belief systems that refused to bend. Hosted by Robbin Jorgensen, Founder & CEO of Women Igniting Change®, each episode examines the moments that reshaped identity, demanded courage, and forced a choice. What unites them is not title or platform — it’s moral clarity under pressure. Formerly the Women Igniting Change® Podcast, this evolution reflects what has always been at the heart of these conversations: the audacity to imagine a better world — and the discipline to build it. Our guests come from different paths and lived experiences, but they share one thing: a refusal to look away. These conversations won’t just inspire you — they will recalibrate you. They invite you to examine your own convictions and take the next step toward the change that’s calling. New episodes every Monday. With listeners in 41 countries, The Audacity Tapes™ is a global platform exploring the moments that demand courage, conviction, and the audacity to choose differently.

Information

  • Creator
    Robbin Jorgensen
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Audacity Tapes™

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