Show notes
Episode Notes
🎙️ In this episode of The Weird Canadian, I sit down with bestselling author and global DEI expert Michael Bach to talk about the real meaning of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (IDEA), and how it’s being dangerously misunderstood in today’s culture wars.
We get real about: ✅ The myth that inclusion undermines merit ✅ Why early DEI frameworks are critical for startups ✅ Pronouns, respect, and ripple effects in workplace culture ✅ Canadian identity, U.S. politics, and sovereignty ✅ What real leadership looks like in an inclusive company
Michael shares insights from decades of work in the field, including his roles at KPMG, Pride at Work Canada, and the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. If you're trying to build a business, manage a team, or just be a decent human, this one’s for you.
📚 Learn more about Michael: https://michaelbach.com 📖 Check out his books: Birds of All Feathers & Alphabet Soup
🔔 Subscribe for more bold, weird, soul-aligned convos: @TheWeirdCanadian
📌 Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro to Michael Bach 01:20 – The biggest myth about DEI 03:15 – Canada, sovereignty & inclusion under threat 05:00 – How to build inclusive companies from the start 07:30 – Why leadership means not knowing everything 10:00 – Respect, pronouns & the mental health impact 14:30 – Michael’s final message & how to take action
👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments, let’s get uncomfortable, respectfully.
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