84 episodes
Our True Colors Dr. Shawna Gann, CDE
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 21 Ratings
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Our True Colors is a podcast that explores the challenges of being racially ambiguous and focuses on identity and belonging. What’s it like when you fit everywhere yet belong nowhere all at the same time? If you or someone you care about might be considered a racial riddle, an ethnic enigma, and a cultural conundrum, this show is for you! Our True Colors is sponsored by True Culture Coaching and Consulting, a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) firm aimed to help you and your organization move forward in your DEI journey beyond compliance by offering support through strategic planning, DEI training, and through consulting and coaching. Visit www.truecultureconsulting.com for more information and to schedule a free consult.
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START HERE: Intro to Our True Colors
This introductory episode introduces listeners to the premise of Our True Colors. In this opening episode, I discuss terms and concepts surrounding issues of race. The links below are here for your reference and to learn more.
I encourage you to reach out to me and share your thoughts! What topics would you like to discuss? Do you have some feedback? Would you like to respond to an episode? Check out www.truecultureconsulting.com where you can also send me a message.
Welcome to the community!
Link further exploration:
Race as a Social ConstructHuman Genome ProjectRace, Ethnicity, and Culture with Jelly BeansBiden Administration's Proposal for Updated Census Data CollectionHonorary Whiteness - Eduardo Bonilla-SilvaColonialismCultureBeing a Third Culture KidIntersectionalityBlumenbach and "Caucasian"More on Blumenbach and the term "Caucasian"Gender Neutral TermsIf this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show.
Our True Colors is sponsored by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization. You can find us at truecultureconsulting.com where you can also contact us to schedule a free consultation. -
Mixed Tape 4: The Close of a Chapter
This is it, y'all! The last episode of OTC! Join the cohosts and me as we reflect on this journey and enjoy the sampler platter we've prepared for you as we talk about the themes we explored, lessons learned, and incredible growth over the years!
About This Episode:
Part 1: The Mixed Tape with Jason
Season 2: I'm Gumbo, Baby! Season 2: What's in a Name? Part 2: The Mixed Tape with Shannon, Carmen, and Yolandie
Season 4: Kickin it with Karlton HoskinsSeason 1: Coming to Our CensusSeason 3: Good Vibes Family ReunionSeason 3: Sticks and StonesSeason 1: Growing Up Ambiguously Across the GenerationsSeason 3: Unwrapping the Gift of DialogueSeason 3: A Mother's LoveSeason 1: Talking H & M: Race and RoyaltyOther Stuff:
Animated map shows the evolution of American accentsNPR Code Switch: Talk AmericanCaste: The Origins of Our DiscontentsIf this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show.
Our True Colors is sponsored by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization. You can find us at truecultureconsulting.com where you can also contact us to schedule a free consultation. -
Belonging and the Gift of Story: Discussions with Joquina Reed
This week I am joined by Joquina M. Reed, my colleague and dear friend.
She is the founding steward of J Reed Consulting LLC. She is also the curator behind the Please Say Black podcast as well as the Divesting from Whiteness Podcast. Kina is deeply committed to global reparations for chattel enslavement and creating shared humanity.
In this episode we explore new perspectives on belonging and how learning more about our identities can provide a welcome anchor to our personal narratives.
If this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show.
Our True Colors is sponsored by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization. You can find us at truecultureconsulting.com where you can also contact us to schedule a free consultation. -
SPECIAL EPISODE: Drama and Identity Dramaturgy with Yolandie Hamilton
Yay! Yolandie is back after taking a few months to be with her little one (if you listen carefully, you'll hear a little bit from her, too! 👶). In this episode, Yolandie (and sometimes Olivia) tells us about a play she is working on and the complexities of identity and stereotypes. This all made me very curious and, despite my congestion (sorry, y'all - guess I was keepin' it real), I had lots of questions for her about her experiences and the premise of the play.
References
By the Way, Meet Vera StarkMeet Yolandie! Season 4 CohostWill Smith in EmancipationWill Smith Has A Candid Answer After Getting Asked Why He Wanted To Make A Movie About SlaveryWill Smith Explains Why He Avoided Making Movies About Slavery: 'I Wanted to Be a Superhero'SPECIAL EPISODE: The Little Mermaid of ColorThe racist backlash to The Little Mermaid and Lord of The Rings is exhausting and extremely predictableIf this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show.
Our True Colors is sponsored by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization. You can find us at truecultureconsulting.com where you can also contact us to schedule a free consultation. -
Removing Your Mask to Tell Your Story: Authentic Filmmaking with Dija Henry
Prepare to be inspired! On this episode of OTC, I am talking with Dija Henry. Together we discuss her work in film and how the work supports the empowerment of authenticity all the way from the people contributing to the film to those viewing it. We go on to discuss the nuances of having a multicultural family and the connections that younger generations are making cross-culturally – a notion that is good for all of us to practice, including one's sense of belonging, particularly when you are racially ambiguous. We also talked about art being central to our lives, and there's a little bit of 80's and 90's nostalgia sprinkled in, too!
Dija is a multi-award winning actress, filmmaker and CEO and founder of Blue House Entertainment, which is a social impact entertainment company dedicated to telling diverse stories that facilitate heart changing conversation to elevate our culture to a more equitable, inclusive and empathetic society. She also works to coach individuals who are working on their first film. In her free time, Dija likes to read, travel, watch movies with her family and have meaningful conversations with others. She's very grateful she has been able to take her family to two of their three countries of origin. India is next on the list!
References and Resources
Belonging: A Culture of PlaceFind Dija Henry on InstagramCheck out The Blue House on Instagram, too!If this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show.
Our True Colors is sponsored by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization. You can find us at truecultureconsulting.com where you can also contact us to schedule a free consultation. -
I Belong to Me: Conversations with Velda Thomas
On this episode of Our True Colors, I had the opportunity to spend time with Velda Thomas - sharing our thoughts on identity, growth, and belonging.
Velda Thomas is the author of Blended: Perspectives on Belonging. She was born and educated in England, UK with family ancestry from Africa, the Caribbean, and the America's. Healing modalities have always been of interest to Velda. She has a love of plants and herbal remedies. For Velda, somatic and ritual experiences weave passion with grounded human experience for creativity and freedom of expression.
Velda has worked as a kindergarten teacher, adult educator, birth doula, massage therapist, sound practitioner and writer. She is a horsewoman, nature lover, mover of the body and world traveler. Velda is currently living in Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula in the USA.
Together, Velda and I talk about belonging to oneself and her sense of vibrational alignment with nature.
Resources and References
Musicians are Hooking Up Synthesizers to Plants for New Sonic PossibilitiesConnect Your Plant To A Moog Synth With MIDI SproutThe Woman King (2022)Whites Distrust Biracial People When Their Racial Presentation Varies, Rutgers Study FindsAsian Americans are Skeptical of Biracial People’s Racial Loyalties (Note: Jacqueline Chen is a former Our True Colors Guest. Check out her episode here.)
If this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show.
Our True Colors is sponsored by True Culture Coaching & Consulting. Head to our website to find out how True Culture Coaching and Consulting can support you and your organization. You can find us at truecultureconsulting.com where you can also contact us to schedule a free consultation.
Customer Reviews
Breath of Fresh Air
I just listened to the episode regarding intersecting communities. What a great conversation Shawna had with her son. I appreciate the honesty. My family is biracial, too, and it was so interesting to hear what Shawna’s son had to say. Thank you and I look forward to hearing future episodes and catching up on the older ones.
My Heart Needed This!
I was so thrilled to stumble upon this show in a Facebook group and couldn't hit the subscribe button fast enough! I've heard "What ARE you?" more times than I could ever count. I'm white and Mexican and while I'm "white passing" I often get asked so many bizarre questions based on my appearance and race and never really had a connect with others who also go through life like that. Thank you for giving us a voice! I'm so excited about this and I'm a fan for life!
High quality content
Shawna is an amazingly good interviewer. She has the voice for it and she expertly navigates through the interview making it more of a conversation rather than a Q&A. The topic is especially relevant today in America where people of color will become the majority of the work class in 10years. Identity and belonging is therefore going to play a big role.