Inclusive Excellence Podcast
Join Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel from the Department of Inclusion and Belonging for a monthly podcast series where they unpack various topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at work.
During each episode's interview, they provide a platform for campus colleagues in various roles to share their lived experiences, thoughts, and ideas around how we can create cultures of belonging, especially in our workplaces. You can listen to this podcast on your phone, at your desk, on your way to work, while you are taking a break, even while you get ready for bed! They also provide a great and free of charge professional development and DEI learning opportunity for people leaders and employees to engage with during team meetings and retreats!
See below for the latest season of episodes and search our Podcast Library on the left for past episodes by overall topic. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Have someone we should highlight for their awesome work around campus? Feel free to send us an email at ie-academy@cornell.edu.
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Season 8
Episode Details & Transcripts
Episode 101: The Next 100 Starts Now
In part two of the 100th episode celebration, Erin and Toral continue their conversation with the show's original creators and past cohosts Dr. Cornell Verdeja-Woodson, Sherron Brown, and Anthony Sis. The group reflects on the roots and ripple effects of the podcast by sharing more behind-the-scenes stories, lessons learned, and the laughter and moments that shaped it all. Tune in to a conversation that honors the legacy of the podcast and inspires those carrying its torch into the future.
Episode 100: Guess Who's Back?
In a special two-part celebration marking 100 episodes of the IE Podcast, Erin and Toral welcome back the show's original creators and past cohosts Dr. Cornell Verdeja-Woodson (he/him/his), Sherron Brown (she/her/hers), and Anthony Sis (he/they). Together, they revisit the untold stories behind the podcast's humble beginnings, the "scrappy" days with a single Yeti mic, and the community that transformed a single idea into one hundred episodes of meaningful conversation. Tune in to Part One to hear where they are now, how life and work have evolved since their time behind the mic, and what this milestone means to them as they reflect on how far the podcast has come — and the people who made it possible.
Episode 99: Where Are They Now? Voices From Past Episodes
As the IE Podcast approaches its 100th episode, we’re catching up with three familiar voices: Caleb Yu (Season 4), Mia Ferraina (Season 3), and Cyrus Hamilton-Ferguson (Season 5). In this special conversation, they reflect on how their lives and perspectives have evolved since their first appearances, what being on the podcast meant to them, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way about identity, inclusion, and belonging.
Revisit their past episodes at IE Podcast Episode Library and don’t miss our milestone 100th episode airing October 10th with a special surprise!
Episode 98: Why We Keep Showing Up: Welcome to Season 8
In this season opener of the Inclusive Excellence Podcast, co-hosts Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel pause to reflect on their podcast journey as they approach a major milestone — 100 episodes. They share why they keep showing up behind the mic, how their approach to hosting has evolved, and what they’ve learned from the many voices and stories shared over the years. From personal moments of vulnerability to powerful insights from past guests, Erin and Toral discuss the impact of this work, the feedback that fuels them, and what’s ahead in Season 8.
For episode descriptions, transcripts, and links for previous seasons, please visit the Episode Library page, or browse by topics.