Welcome to the 285th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! Another episode to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month with this year’s theme “Roots to Routes”. In this week’s episode I explore why we need to stop asking people “where are you really from”! I look at how we can create more inclusive ways to understand someone’s heritage and journey.
This episode explores the distinction between othering questions and genuine relationship-building, providing practical alternatives for cultivating authentic connections in the workplace.
Listen to the episode
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In today’s show on Stop Asking Where Are You Really from
- Exploring the meaning of roots and routes. [00:59]
- What makes “where are you really from?” so problematic. [02:46]
- Ways to navigating identity and belonging in the workplace. [03:43]
- How this question undermines identity and creates isolation. [05:20]
- Practical alternatives for building genuine relationships before exploring heritage. [08:06]
Quotes on Stop Asking Where Are You Really from
- Each of us carries a unique story shaped by our roots and the routes travelled to get to where we are.
- It is like pressing on a bruise because it subtly undermines a person’s identity and reinforcing stereotypes.
- This makes individuals feel like they don’t belong, that they’re outsiders, particularly in a workplace environment.
- You don’t have the right to know, as this creates and maintains a power imbalance.
- “Creating an environment where people can share their stories is not only beneficial for individual employees, but also boosts morale, engagement and retention across an organisation.”.
Resources for Stop Asking Where Are You Really from
- Listen to Episode #252 – That’s Not My Name!
- Check out Episode #37 – Why bother with Inclusive Language?
- Download the free 200-episode guide with clickable links HERE.
- Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
- Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
- Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe
Work with me
Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC
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Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.
