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

Dr. Shawna Gann

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. From Angola to Los Angeles: Joy DuVivre on Mixedness Across Borders

    1D AGO

    From Angola to Los Angeles: Joy DuVivre on Mixedness Across Borders

    MESSAGE ME HERE! What would people assume about you if they could only hear your voice? In this expansive and thought provoking episode, Dr. Shawna Gann and Marcel sit down with global cultural commentator Joy DuVivre to explore identity across borders, histories and lived experience. Born in Romania to a Romanian Romani mother and an Angolan father, and raised primarily in Angola, Joy brings a deeply layered perspective shaped by colonial history, colorism, migration and disability. From the legacy of Romani enslavement in Europe to the impact of colonial borders in Africa, this conversation moves across continents while staying grounded in one powerful truth: identity is fluid, contextual and constantly evolving. Joy shares reflections on colorism using the framework coined by Alice Walker, the historical reality of Romani persecution including during the Holocaust, the parallels between Romani experiences in Europe and Black experiences in the United States, and what it means to become disabled after building a career rooted in physical expression. She also introduces her playful yet powerful identity markers like "West Coastian" and "Sunsetter", reminding us that belonging can be self-defined. In this episode, we explore: • How perception and voice shape racial assumptions • The global roots of colorism and colonial hierarchy • Romani history, enslavement and ongoing discrimination • Afro Romani communities in the American South • Assimilation, survival and generational silence • Disability as identity • Why mixedness is not a box but a lived experience Joy mentions her excitement about attending the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association Conference taking place February 19 through 21 at UCLA in Los Angeles. Click here to learn more about the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association. Consider becoming a member! 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.

    46 min
  2. SPECIAL EPISODE: “Wait, Is This Really Happening?” A Candid Check In From Inside the Moment

    6D AGO

    SPECIAL EPISODE: “Wait, Is This Really Happening?” A Candid Check In From Inside the Moment

    MESSAGE ME HERE! No guest today, no polished lesson, no neat ending. Just Dr. Shawna Gann and Rachel, one of last year’s co-hosts, sitting down for an unfiltered, unscripted conversation about what it feels like to be alive in this moment. They jump from media to power, faith to language, survival to community, and the constant mental whiplash of trying to stay grounded while everything feels loud. The through line is voice, not the perfect kind, but the kind that helps you name what you’re noticing, process out loud, and remember you are not the only one holding this tension in your body. Together they talk about how we got here, how information gets curated, how language gets manipulated, and why proximity to wealth and authority has never been proof of intelligence or morality. They reflect on growing up in church, the ways religion and politics get tangled, and how systems shape what we believe about gender, race, and who is seen as human. It’s funny in places, heavy in others, and above all honest. A reminder to protect your voice, protect your energy, stay connected, and stay engaged where it counts, especially locally. Content note: adult language and discussion of politics and current events. This is not a news report or definitive analysis, it’s two people thinking out loud in real time. 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.

    58 min
  3. Half of Many Things, Whole on Purpose: Conversation with Shaman and Reiki Master AB Caplan

    JAN 28

    Half of Many Things, Whole on Purpose: Conversation with Shaman and Reiki Master AB Caplan

    MESSAGE ME HERE! Host Dr. Shawna Gann and co-host Marcel welcome their first guest of the season in this powerful conversation of Our True Colors.  They are joined by the founder of Lonewolf District Ali Blair Caplan, known as "AB". In this discussion, they explore what it means to live between identities and still claim a sense of belonging. AB shares her lived experience as a biracial Black and white woman adopted into an all-white family, and how that journey shaped her understanding of race, contentment, and self-trust. This episode moves through stories of being labeled, questioned, and reduced by others and how those moments can fracture identity or become catalysts for healing. AB reflects on the moment she realized society would always see her as non-white, regardless of proximity to whiteness, and how that reckoning led her toward spiritual practice, integrity, and creating spaces where people feel safe to be fully themselves. The conversation weaves together race, adoption, wellness, cultural responsibility, and energy work, offering grounding rather than escape. A central reminder echoes throughout. Love and good intentions are not always enough. Integrity, responsibility, and tending to ourselves matter if we want to stay human in uncertain times. More to Check Out: The Aimee Amour - Best Bar DJ in New York CityHow frogs went from right-wing meme to anti-ICE protest symbolTo explore Shawna’s work and sign up for updates about her upcoming book Mixed Signals, visit TrueCultureConsulting.com. If this episode resonated, subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need it. 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.

    59 min
  4. Meet Season 6 Co-Host Marcel De Jonghe: Mixed is a Whole New Recipe

    JAN 16

    Meet Season 6 Co-Host Marcel De Jonghe: Mixed is a Whole New Recipe

    MESSAGE ME HERE! Season 6 is here—and we’re starting with a Meet the Co-Host episode. Shawna welcomes back Marcel De Jonghe (joining from Birmingham, UK) for a warm, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about what it means to live in complexity. Marcel shares why being mixed isn’t a neat “half-and-half” story. It’s more like ingredients baked into something entirely new. Together, Shawna and Marcel talk about how identity often gets filtered through other people’s assumptions, how microaggressions can feel “frosted” in the air, and why belonging can be hardest in that in-between, liminal space where you’re moving… but never quite “arrived.” Marcel also opens up about well-being and the importance of men speaking honestly about mental health—especially when pain can stay hidden for years until it demands to be addressed. He introduces the concept of sonder—the reminder that every person you pass is carrying a whole life of their own—and invites us to move through the world with more curiosity, care, and humanity. This season, Shawna and Marcel are leaning into honesty, nuance, and the courage to show up as our full selves—without shrinking into whatever version feels easiest for the room. Connect with Marcel: The Belonging Lab  LinkedIn If this episode resonated, here’s your CTA: Share this episode with someone who’s ever felt “in-between.”Subscribe/follow Our True Colors so you don’t miss the conversations ahead.Leave a review—your support helps more listeners find 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.

    46 min
  5. START HERE: Learn About Our True Colors

    09/12/2025

    START HERE: Learn About Our True Colors

    MESSAGE ME HERE! Welcome to Our True Colors. This brief introduction gives you the full picture of what the show is about, who I am, and what you can expect in every season. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why I started this podcast and what “racial riddle, ethnic enigma, and cultural conundrum” really mean.How different co-hosts join me each season — and why that rotating perspective matters.The kinds of stories you’ll hear, from families, professionals, and my own lived experience.Why belonging is at the heart of every conversation.👉 Want to connect? Look for the link above to send me a direct message or let's connect online! You can find the links right here in the show notes. Welcome to the community! 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.

    10 min
  6. Our True Colors - The Trailer

    09/01/2025

    Our True Colors - The Trailer

    MESSAGE ME HERE! If you’re new here, this short trailer will give you a taste of Our True Colors. You’ll hear how the show explores identity, belonging, and life in the in-between spaces. Subscribe now and then check out the full Start Here episode for a deeper dive into what we’re about. 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.

    1 min
  7. Double Feature Season 5 Finale: Our True Colors at Home

    07/09/2025

    Double Feature Season 5 Finale: Our True Colors at Home

    MESSAGE ME HERE! For the first time, I’m joined by my full family—my husband Chad and our kids, Christian and Ariana—in a double-length finale to close out Season 5 of Our True Colors. We get into it all: Identity, hair, and insecuritiesWhat people assume about us as a coupleFamily culture, music, and travelHow our kids make sense of their biracial identityWhat it really means to belongIt’s funny, vulnerable, unscripted—and filled with moments we’ve never shared, even with each other. Let's stay in touch! Shawna on LinkedInTrue Culture on LinkedInThe Culture Clinic NewsletterTrue Culture Coaching and ConsultingOur True Colors on InstagramSeason 5 Episodes on YouTubeContact Me DirectlyStuff to Explore and Learn More About: Our True Colors "Start Here" episodeW.E.B. Du Bois & Double ConsciousnessJ.D. Vance...calls Kamala Harris a chameleonPrevious Episodes with Christian Gann/Aimee Amour: Intersecting Communities: BLM and PrideHey, Queen! Talking Racial Ambiguity with Christian Gann and Aimee AmourFollow Aimee Amour on Instagram and TikTokCheck out this special edition Culture Clinic featuring Christian and AimeeIf 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.

    1h 15m
  8. Bloodlines and Borders: Tracing the Truth of Mixed Ancestry with Victoria Kabeya

    06/17/2025

    Bloodlines and Borders: Tracing the Truth of Mixed Ancestry with Victoria Kabeya

    MESSAGE ME HERE! In this rich and vulnerable episode, Dr. Shawna Gann welcomes Belgian-French author, historian, and researcher Victoria Kabeya to discuss the complexities of multigenerationally mixed identity. From the trauma of slavery to the politics of racial categorization, Victoria shares personal stories, global insights, and the intellectual foundations behind her groundbreaking books. Together, they explore what it means to be Multi-Generationally Mixed—not just biologically, but culturally, historically, and emotionally. Stuff to Check Out: Matriarch by Tina Knowles Mixing: A History of Anti-Miscegenation Laws in the U.S.Free People of Color in Colonial Louisiana BET: A ‘Love & Hip Hop’ Star’s Blackness Is Being QuestionedNPR: For Some People of Appalachia, Complicated RootsThe MelungeonsYouTube: Understanding the MelungeonsArab Center DC: The Colonial Legacy in the Arab WorldNPR Code Switch: Why Rachel Dolezal Can Never Be BlackHowStuffWorks: When Irish Immigrants Weren’t Considered WhiteYouTube: The Asian Man Who Wanted to be White  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.

    46 min
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5
out of 5
22 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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