From Free Rein Associates and Life Strategies comes the Diversity Disconnect Podcast. Tasked with exploring the helping and hindering factors in job acquisition and employment maintenance for underrepresented groups, the research team spent six months speaking with residents in the rural communities of Agassiz, Hope, Merritt, Ashcroft, and Princeton, British Columbia. This limited series explores the findings of the Diversity Disconnect research and examines the 20 factors that influence employment success for Indigenous Peoples and persons with disabling conditions. Launching January 8, 2025, subscribe to the Diversity Disconnect Podcast so you don’t miss a moment. Funded by the Government of Canada.
From the proposal phase of this project, Free Rein Associates knew it would specifically look to hire a diverse team that shared the experiences and challenges faced by our research participants. Mallory sits down with the team to share how that decision impacted the project and the difference it made in the lives of each team member.
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
With GuestsPeter BaileyMegan te BoekhorstEmily WhiteMadeleine Warkentin
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
Funded by the Government of Canada
27 Feb 2025
Tales From The Road - Bonus Episode 01
Please note: this episode does end suddenly and unexpectedly. Due to a production error, the final three questions of this episode were unfortunately unusable.
Go behind the scenes of the research and hear from the Diversity Disconnect road team!
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
With Guests
Desiree CarlsonMegan te BoekhorstMadeleine WarkentinEmily White
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
Funded by the Government of Canada
12 Feb 2025
So What Now? - Episode 06
The researchers of Diversity Disconnect sit down to discuss the lessons learned, recommendations put forward, and next steps for creating inclusive, diverse communities in rural and remote regions.
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
With GuestsMadeleine WarkentinEmily WhiteCassie Taylor
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
Funded by the Government of Canada
5 Feb 2025
We’re All In This Together - Episode 05
The bonds that tie your community together can have a major influence in your success. Knowing who your neighbours are, authentically, and what motivates them can help to strengthen those bonds. And when people, workplaces, and communities allow for that authentic connection, you are empowered to find your right fit.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why it’s important for communities to work together, especially if you live in a rural and remote region
How understanding your motivation (and the motivation of your team and colleagues) can significantly improve your workplace
What it means to allow for authenticity in the workplace in order to ensure strong fit
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
With GuestsMadeleine WarkentinEmily WhiteCassie TaylorDesiree Carlson
Staring:Megan te Boekhorst as JordanDiana King as ShanePeter Bailey as GeorgeHarmony Toth as Alex
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
Funded by the Government of Canada
Success Factors Examined:
Community
Motivation
Authenticity
Fit
30 Jan 2025
The Transportation Paradox: Disconnect Between Employer Expectation and Rural Realities - Episode 04
For this week’s episode, the team shares the most shocking disconnect between rural employers and the people they hire. We also dive into the importance of workplace environments, the role our financial realities play in our employment success, and the unique challenges faced by rural communities specifically.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How employers can make a difference in employment success by helping to solve one problem
What it means to have a healthy work environment
How unique rural challenges can often be left out of the equation – and how that impacts program success
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
With GuestsMadeleine WarkentinEmily WhiteCassie TaylorDesiree Carlson
Staring:Megan te Boekhorst as JordanDiana King as ShanePeter Bailey as GeorgeHarmony Toth as Alex
Hosted by Mallory Tomlinson
Produced by Megan te Boekhorst
Audio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
Funded by the Government of Canada
Success Factors Examined:
Transportation
Work Environments
Financial
Rural Realities
23 Jan 2025
Walking Through Spiderwebs: The Discomfort Of Change – Episode 03
Inclusive, equitable diversity in the workplace requires accepting that you’ll experience moments of discomfort. Growth and discomfort often walk hand in hand.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
About some of the challenges you need to prepare for in building an inclusive workplace
How gaining awareness of barriers faced by marginalized groups will help you be a better manager and employer
Why all employers need to keep a trauma-informed lens
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
With GuestsMadeleine WarkentinEmily WhiteCassie TaylorDesiree Carlson
Staring:Megan te Boekhorst as JordanDiana King as ShanePeter Bailey as GeorgeHarmony Toth as Alex
Hosted by Mallory TomlinsonProduced by Megan te BoekhorstAudio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
Funded by the Government of Canada
Success Factors Examined:
Awareness
Respect
Discrimination
Bureaucracy
15 Jan 2025
New Skills On The Block: Bringing The Right Stuff For Success - Episode 02
Host Mallory Tomlinson explores the essential skills for success with guests Madeliene Warkentin, Emily White, Cassie Taylor, and Desiree Carlson, revealing how collaboration and interpersonal skills drive employment and community success.
8 Jan 2025
Rural Employer Seeks Perfect Employee Match - Episode 01
After hearing from the diverse residents of Agassiz, Hope, Princeton, Merritt, and Ashcroft, the Diversity Disconnect research team identified 20 factors that influence employment success. Whether you’re a job seeker or employee from an underrepresented group, an employer small or large, or a member of a small, rural community, it’s important to understand how these factors impact your life and the lives of those around you. Empowering yourself with this knowledge will help to improve your local economy, foster inclusive workplaces for all, and spark change for people with diverse abilities and Indigenous Peoples.
In this episode, meet the Diversity Disconnect team: Madeleine, Emily, Cassie, and Desiree. You’ll also be introduced to Jordan, Shane, George, and Alex, the four characters who represent the research participants of Diversity Disconnect.
We’ll also introduce five of the 20 factors that impact workplace success and how they impact employment and the success of rural communities.
Links
Learn more about the research: www.freereinassociates.ca/diversity-disconnect
Research Report to support the launch of Skills For Success: Structure, evidence, and recommendations. May 2021 SRDC
Canada – A learning nation: A skilled, agile workforce ready to shape the future
Find resources for employment success at Diversity At Work
Learn more about Free Rein Associates
Learn more about Life Strategies
Learn more about the Skills for Success
With Guests
Madeliene WarkentinEmily WhiteCassie TaylorDesiree Carlson
Staring:
Megan te Boekhorst as JordanDiana King as ShanePeter Bailey as GeorgeHarmony Toth as Alex
Hosted by Mallory TomlinsonProduced by Megan te BoekhorstAudio Engineer: Tim McAlpine of CoWork’s Studio C
Success Factors Examined:
Opportunities
Training/Learning
Accessibility/Accommodation
Flexibility
Connections
13 Dec 2024
Introducing the Diversity Disconnect Podcast - Launching January 8
Diversity Disconnect Podcast host, Free Rein Associates, and Life Strategies, share real stories from the Diversity Disconnect research project, revealing how to bridge the disconnect and achieve greater diversity and inclusion.
Who has been a guest on Diversity Disconnect Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Madeliene Warkentin
Emily White
Cassie Taylor
Desiree Carlson
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
260
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
7
Social presence
0
YouTube
64
Engagement
32
Contact Diversity Disconnect Podcast
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
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