DEI After 5 with Sacha

The work doesn’t end at 5pm—and neither do we.•deiafter5.substack.com

DEI After 5 is where inclusion meets real life. Hosted by Sacha Thompson, this weekly podcast explores how current events shape our workplaces and communities—with practical insights and honest reflection.

deiafter5.substack.com

Last refreshed: July 9th, 2025 at 7:22 AM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Finding Your Community: The Key to Overcoming Isolation and Burnout

We talk a lot about burnout, disconnection, and disengagement at work—but we don’t talk enough about how community can be the antidote. In this episode of DEI After 5 , I share some reflections on how easy it is—especially for middle managers—to feel like you're carrying the load alone. You're expected to show up for everyone else, but who’s holding space for you ? That’s where community comes in. And I’m not just talking about team bonding or a happy hour after work. I’m talking about the peopl...

Jul 01, 2025•7 min

Middle Managers Hold the Line—But Who’s Supporting Them?

In this re-release of my conversation with Amy Waninger, we’re revisiting a topic that’s even more urgent today than when we first recorded it: the vital role middle managers play in building inclusive, psychologically safe workplaces—and the real cost when they’re left out of the conversation. The Reality Behind the Rhetoric It’s easy to talk about inclusion at the top. Executive teams set strategic priorities, launch statements, and announce new initiatives. But the real test of whether those ...

Jun 24, 2025•37 min

Beyond the Office Doors: How External Events Impact Our Work Lives

Let’s be real—what’s happening in the world doesn’t stop at the office door. We don’t get to hang our worries on a hook next to our coats and step into a perfectly insulated work bubble. And yet, too often, that’s exactly what workplaces expect us to do. In this week’s episode of DEI After 5 , I’m talking about the impact of external events—whether they’re global, national, or deeply personal—and how they show up in our work lives. Because they do show up. In our energy levels. In how we communi...

Jun 17, 2025•9 min

Middle Managers Are Burning Out—and It’s Time to Pay Attention

Welcome to this week's episode of DEI After 5. Today, I decided to shift our focus slightly while still staying within the realm of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Specifically, I want to delve into the inclusion aspect and address a pressing issue I've been noticing: burnout among first-line and middle managers. Through my recent webinars, client conversations, and surveys, I've identified that burnout is less about the workload and more about the organizational culture. Middle managers...

Jun 10, 2025•1 min

Welcome Back to DEI After 5

In this episode of DEI After 5, we celebrate the return of the podcast after a brief hiatus. Sacha reflects on the importance of continuing discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace and beyond. While the podcast name remains the same, the focus has expanded to encompass how DEI practices influence our lives, communities, and organizational cultures beyond 5 PM. Listeners can expect to see more solo episodes from Sacha, alongside guest appearances, fostering deepe...

May 27, 2025•4 min•Season 10Ep. 1

Are You Truly Embodying Your Values?

What does it mean to embody inclusion and belonging in your everyday life? How can community shape our success? By exploring these questions, Nancy and I uncover the importance of intentionally living out our beliefs, not just displaying them. It’s about setting the standard for behavior and modeling a culture that nurtures understanding and acceptance. The journey to success is rarely solo; it thrives in the richness of community, especially in places like Minneapolis, surrounded by innovation ...

May 12, 2025•1 min

Bridging the Generational Gap: Insights on Age Diversity in the Workplace

In this episode of DEI After 5, host Sacha Thompson welcomes Dr. Daniel Jolles, a behavioral scientist and research officer at the London School of Economics. They explore the often-overlooked topic of age diversity in the workplace, discussing the generational miscommunications and differing values that can arise in diverse work environments. Dr. Jolles shares insights from his background in corporate project management, highlighting how redundancies disproportionately affect older employees. T...

Dec 31, 2024•35 min

The Future of DEI in a Contentious Political Landscape

In this episode of DEI After 5, host Sacha Thompson welcomes Sara Taylor from Deep Sea Consulting to discuss the impact of election season on workplace dynamics, particularly regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As the political landscape becomes contentious, DEI initiatives are increasingly under attack, leading to a critical examination of how these issues infiltrate the workplace. With 35 years of experience in the DEI field, Sara shares insights on managing and navigating the in...

Dec 24, 2024•44 min

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android