Context Matters with Amanda Bell

A podcast that for everyone who has ever thought “there has to be a better way” when it comes to work, systems, or your job. In each episode we will be expanding the conversation around work, organizational development, efficiency, productivity, profitability, and data. Because context matters y’all. We’ll talk a lot about how organizations and the humans who work in them can be more efficient and productive and accountable AND human centered. You will leave the podcast seeing more possibilities at work.

Last refreshed: July 17th, 2025 at 8:19 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Episode 11: Diaspora and black goddesses: The context of representation with Dr. Giavanni Washington

On today’s episode I talk with Dr. Giavanni Washington, a Black Goddess Guide and the creator of the only oracle deck featuring real black women embodying African goddesses. We talk about how black people have been disconnected from their history and have been pushed out of spiritual spaces. Dr. Washington has made it her mission to help address this balance. Enjoy this fabulous discussion about reconsidering black bodies and reconsidering the source of these black bodies. The wisdom in the deck...

Sep 27, 2023•35 min•Ep. 11

Episode 10: Self-Expressed Leadership as a Workplace Lens

Today, Brooke Hofsess and I talk about self-expressed leadership as a lens for understanding how folks can show up as leaders. We talk about the five qualities of self expressed leadership: presence, congruence, reverence, interdependence, and divergence and how self-expressed leadership invites other people into their fullest expression, and how that creates a sense of connection and belonging. Brooke’s framework is a great example of the alignment between content and methods, where leadership ...

Sep 13, 2023•35 min•Ep. 10

Episode 9 - Organizational Lenses for Productive Data with Luke Givens Part 2

Today we will continue our discussion with Luke Givens about perceptions around data and how they are a helpful lens to have effective and productive conversations. Our perceptions around data may differ but we can still work together towards an efficient outcome. How does work happen at your workplace? Often there is a disconnect between what we say we are doing and what is actually happening. What does working with others look like for you? These are just some of the issues that we will be div...

Aug 30, 2023•26 min•Ep. 9

Episode 8 - Organizational lenses for productive data with Luke Givens Part 1

Today Luke Givens shares his knowledge and experience on the podcast around organizational development and, of course, data! Luke and I worked together on projects centering equity and data. We talk about how information travels throughout an organization and how having this kind of data can help get results. There’s a big difference between presenting data and knowing what the data can accomplish. We’ll discuss the different roles of people within an organization so that data actually gets used...

Aug 16, 2023•30 min•Ep. 8

Episode 7 - Why context matters when you organize with Jess Reed

Today’s podcast features Jess Reed, a professional home organizer. Her company Green Mountain Space, specializes in eliminating the emotional burdens of clutter for folks like busy professionals, stay-at-home parents, and retirees to create a beautiful, functional, and sustainable organized home. We will discuss organizing space and time in terms of context matters and the difference between macro-organizing and mico-organizing. When it comes to your stuff, what is your goal and what is importan...

Aug 02, 2023•36 min•Ep. 7

Episode 6: Time, Productivity, & Data

On today’s episode we’ll talk about our relationship to time management and how it relates to our productivity. And of course, we’ll talk about data! I talk about how time blocking/time management and our routines can often be idealized versions of the ways that we can live our lives. I also talk about some of the cultural beliefs that we have internalized about what we are supposed to be doing. And guess, what, data is a solution! We haven’t been given enough experience and skills to understand...

Jun 21, 2023•32 min•Ep. 6

Episode 5: Somatics, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and the Workplace with Shannon Tabor

I am so excited to be joined by Shannon Tabor, a Somatic Trauma Therapist with a specialization in somatics and Internal Family Systems (IFS) = a way in which we can understand ourselves and others through a nonpathological lens. Learning how our body speaks to us through sensations, temperature, etc. is extremely helpful when trying to figure out how we navigate the world and our experiences. In the end, nothing is good or bad or even right or wrong. IFS and the body is a helpful lens to look a...

May 26, 2023•30 min•Ep. 5

Episode 4: Information Overload and what to do about it

In today’s episode, I talk about how it’s hard to do data differently, information proliferation - the consumption and sharing of information - and how we got to where we are today when it comes to information. As a society, we have access to SO much information all the time and there are so many tools and methods that help us access that information. This makes it difficult to narrow down what is the data that we really need? Hello….information overload!?! So join me today as we talk about what...

May 10, 2023•26 min•Ep. 4

Episode 3: Is it data or dAta?

In this episode, I talk about how to shift workplace data practices and broaden the picture of what information helps organizations thrive. These shifts can move the needle on empowering folks to advocate for themselves and their organization with data. So what do I mean by “data?” What qualifies as data and who gets to decide this?? Data is a systematic way of looking at a bunch of information that has some particular bounds. But who gets to say what those bounds are and what guidelines they mu...

Apr 26, 2023•26 min•Ep. 3

Episode 2: Human centered efficiency

In today's episode, we talk about what efficiency means in organizations and what it can look like to model human centered efficiency. I don’t know about you but I have been both extremely curious and disgusted by the idea of being efficient. Why does efficiency even matter? Basically it's a means to an end. I leave you with some easy ways to make efficiency more human centered for you in the workplace, through daily time tracking (link to time tracking sheet below), listing out your non-negotia...

Apr 12, 2023•30 min•Ep. 2

Episode 1: Data as a form of compassion

Welcome to the first episode of context matters with Amanda Bell. What is this podcast about you ask? This is a podcast for everyone who has ever thought “there’s gotta be a better way” when it comes to work, organizations, systems, or your job. We’re going to broaden the picture of work because context matters y’all. So let’s dive in… On today’s episode we’ll talk about: Data as a form of compassion Mathematical self efficacy Avoiding numbers and translating them How do you relate with data? My...

Mar 29, 2023•24 min•Ep. 1

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