By: James Matthews, a Laurier Institution Blog Contributor

Podcasts have flourished during COVID-19 despite reduced commute times. Whether your new commute takes you to your home office or couch, we’ve created a list of the top 5 podcasts to add to your podcast library that will help to deepen your understanding of diversity and inclusion.

Code Switch

“Race. In your face.” This is Code Switch ’s slogan, and rightly so. Code Switch covers conversations around race and its impact on areas like sports, pop culture and politics. The podcast also features a diverse rotation of journalists “talking to people who have been marginalized and underrepresented for so long, who are so hungry to see themselves represented fully and with nuance and complexity,” says co-host, Shereen Marisol Meraji. If you want to listen to daring conversations about race, give Code Switch a listen.

The Diversity Gap

There’s a difference between “good intentions” and actionable steps towards diversity and inclusion. As the name suggests, The Diversity Gap looks to bridge these two spaces: “Our goal is to discover promising practices for closing diversity gaps in our everyday lives and work!” says podcast host, Bethaney Wilkinson. The Diversity Gap Academy “exists to journey with people as they pair good intentions for diversity with true cultural change.”

You’re Wrong About

Michael Hobbs and Sarah Marshall, co-hosts of the podcast You’re Wrong About, are both “journalists obsessed with the past.” Every episode, they “reconsider an event, person or phenomenon that’s been miscast in the public imagination,” often through a misinterpretation that connects race, gender and class. More comedic than confrontational, their conversations both entertain and prompt listeners to rethink traditional “history” taught in classrooms.

Intersectionality Matters!

Understanding intersectionality is key to understanding diversity and inclusion. Intersectionality Matters! is produced by the African American Policy Forum, and is hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw. Crenshaw is a leading advocate and scholar in the field of civil rights. Touted as “the podcast that brings intersectionality to life,” Intersectionality Matters! is essential listening for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of intersectionality and how race touches every part of our social fabric.

Choose Inclusion

What kinds of conversations take place between a blind man, a woman of colour, and an ally from the Latino community? Choose Inclusion features a unique trio of hosts who discuss how diversity, equity and inclusion impact businesses. The result? Rich conversations about inclusion in the workplace.

Perhaps the pile of dishes inhabiting your sink has grown to the point of no return. Or maybe the window from your home office just isn’t cutting it on a sunny afternoon and a walk beckons. Make sure your phone is fully charged and fire up your headphones. With these podcasts in your rotation, you’ll benefit by growing your understanding of diversity and inclusion along the way.