DEI has been all over the news, as political attacks affect organizations of various types. Host Michael Baran clarifies how the attacks are misleading people about DEI work, explains why the work of DEI isn’t going anywhere, and shares strategies for moving forward in this contentious time.

DEI has become the subject of the most heated debates about today’s workplaces. Is there any validity to the attacks against it? Is DEI really dispensable?

In this episode of The Culture Advantage, Michael Baran takes a hard look at the political attacks against diversity, equity, and inclusion. He breaks down how the attacks actually mislead people about the very meaning of DEI itself and the work it entails. Opponents of DEI suggest that DEI is all about quotas, that it is an “overcorrection,” or that it is “wokeness gone wild.”

Michael unpacks these misleading claims about DEI and reveals how these narratives harm individuals and entire organizations. He explains why DEI work doesn’t lower standards or give unfair advantages, but rather removes barriers, works toward more fairness, and creates the kind of culture every team needs to thrive.

You’ll also hear some thoughts about moving forward with the work in today’s climate, including how recent EEOC guidelines still allow organizations to pursue meaningful DEI work, why spelling out “diversity, equity, and inclusion” may be more effective than using the acronym, and why this work is more essential than ever if you want to build trust, respect, and collaboration at every level of your organization.

Finally, Michael shares a practical follow-up activity you can do. Reach out to those involved with DEI efforts inside your own company, learn about the work that’s happening, and explore how you can play a role. Whether or not the acronym survives, the work itself is not optional but is the foundation for doing any job well.

If you’ve been wondering what’s really going on with the controversies over DEI, this episode will help you see the attacks with more clarity, and it will help you see why your organization can’t afford to ignore this work.

DEI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of healthy, high-performing cultures. In this episode of The Culture Advantage Podcast, host Michael Baran breaks down what diversity, equity, and inclusion truly mean, why they matter, and how leaders can start noticing everyday behaviors that shape belonging in the workplace.

Culture isn’t about food days, slogans, or posters on the wall; it’s about how people actually experience your organization every day.

In the premiere episode of The Culture Advantage Podcast, Dr. Michael Baran unpacks what culture really means, why it determines everything from retention to innovation, and how leaders can intentionally create environments where people thrive and teams excel.

From hidden messages to everyday interactions to structures and policies, culture has a significant impact on how people feel, collaborate, and perform.

In this inaugural episode, Dr. Michael Baran shares about his background and his motivation for starting this podcast to help you build a culture that supports all people, catalyzes effective collaboration, and leads to thriving organizations.