Liberated AF: The Workplace Revolution

What Happens When You Invest in Equity Training But Still See Problematic Behavior?

You’ve invested in the training. You’ve named the values. And yet… problematic behavior persists. Now what?
In this timely and candid episode, Sanita Kumar and Fong Marcolongo tackle a tough and common question in the DEI world: Why doesn’t equity training automatically lead to equity-aligned behavior, and what can we do about it?
They explore:
Why training is only one step in a longer change process
The three types of staff responses to equity work: aligned, uncertain, and resistant
How lack of accountability undermines even the best training investments
What leaders must do to shift culture, not just check a box
How to break change into small, coachable steps that build trust and long-term impact
Whether you’re a DEI leader, HR professional, or just someone tired of performative gestures with no follow-through, this episode offers clear insight—and real tools—for moving beyond intention and into transformation.
🎧 Tune in now and learn how to make equity work stick—for real.

Why Is Inclusion Such a Threat?

In this uncensored and deeply curious episode, Sangita Kumar and Fong Marcolongo ask a provocative question: why does inclusion feel so threatening to many teams and organizations?
They dive into how “inclusion” runs up against the norms and unspoken rules of dominant culture—the system that defines who belongs, who’s seen as “normal,” and whose ideas are considered credible .
Inside the episode, they explore:
How inclusion feels risky for the status quo—even when intentions are good.
The difference between surface-level diversity and real inclusion, and why the former can feel reminder of what we’re lacking
Why building inclusive environments often triggers defensiveness, anxiety, or backlash
How to move from symbolic representation to structural change that actually centers marginalized voices
With candid stories from real consulting work, tools to identify hidden cultural norms, and practices that help build psychological safety, this episode challenges listeners to shift from performative gestures to transformational inclusion.
If you’ve ever been stuck in the tension between wanting inclusion and feeling overwhelmed or unsafe, this one is for you.
🎧 Tune into Liberated AF—available on all major podcast platforms.

How We Worked On Our Sense of Urgency Over Time

We’ve all felt it—the push to act fast, fix it now, move ahead. But what happens when that urgency undermines the very culture we’re trying to build?
In this reflective and revealing episode, Sangita Kumar and Fong Marcolongo explore how “sense of urgency”—a hallmark of dominant culture—can sabotage belonging, trust, and long-term impact inside organizations. They get real about how this urgency shows up in their own leadership, how it affects teams, and what they’ve learned about slowing down to move forward with care.
They discuss:
How urgency can isolate leaders and pressure teams
Why thoughtful pacing builds more inclusive and sustainable workplaces
The difference between urgency and accountability
What happened when they shifted from top-down directives to co-created processes
How behavior change and culture work requires space for feelings, feedback, and iteration
If you're navigating deadlines, managing people, or just trying to lead without replicating harmful systems, this episode offers practical insight and radical permission to slow your roll.
🎧 Listen in and let’s reimagine how we work—without the panic.

Navigating Power Dynamics

Power is always present, but rarely talked about honestly.
In this episode, Sangeeta Kumar and co-hosts dive into the invisible forces shaping our workplaces: power dynamics. They explore how identity, privilege, and positional authority intersect to determine whose voice is heard, whose ideas are valued, and who gets to lead.
From identity wheels and dominant culture norms to the challenges BIPOC leaders face in white-dominant spaces, this episode offers an unfiltered look at what it really means to “navigate” power—especially when you're trying to dismantle it while holding some of it yourself.
You’ll hear:
How power shows up in teams, meetings, and equity work
Why even well-meaning leaders reproduce inequity
How “looking good” can get in the way of doing the real work
What it takes to build cultures where power is named, shared, and reimagined
With practical insight and deep honesty, the conversation challenges us to embrace both our complexity and our responsibility. Because when we ignore power, we reinforce it. But when we face it together—we can begin to transform it.

How Much Diversity Can a Place Hold?

In this episode, Sangita Kumar and Fong Marcolongo dive deep into a bold and timely question: How much diversity can a space actually hold? They explore the tension between wanting inclusive spaces and building the actual infrastructure needed to support them.
Through stories from their equity consulting work—including a gentrifying neighborhood in San Francisco and schools with mismatched staff and student demographics—they reveal how diversity isn't just about who’s at the table, but how the table is set.
They break down:
Why identity diversity brings new ways of thinking—and new challenges
How dominant culture norms can turn differences into perceived conflict
Why diverse teams often struggle without shared values or tools
What it really takes to move from performative to transformative inclusion
If you've ever felt stuck in conversations about representation, struggled with friction on diverse teams, or wondered how to support real equity without burning people out, this episode offers grounded insight, strategy, and hope.

Are You Running a False Democracy? How to be honest as you dismantle power hoarding

In this episode of Liberated AF, Sangita Kumar and Fong Marcolongo unpack the subtle ways power hoarding shows up in leadership—even when we have the best intentions. From setting agendas solo to making “caring” decisions on behalf of others, they explore how false democracy can show up in our teams and organizations.
If you’re ready to lead with honesty, share power meaningfully, and build a workplace where everyone has a voice, this one’s for you.