Not Your Token Hire is a space dedicated to real, unfiltered conversations about the workplace and beyond, disrupting the status quo one story at a time.
Jamila Rizvi, author and broadcaster, discusses her experience with a brain tumor and advocates for equitable workplaces that move beyond tick-box policies, in an interview with Nidhi Kalaiya.
16 Jul 2025
11. HUDA THE GODDESS - not your token slam poet
Huda Fadlelmawla, slam poet, discusses using language as a survival tool, centering Black voices, and building community through art, while Nidhi Kalaiya hosts this interview.
4 Jul 2025
10. TOM BALLARD - not your token white guy
Comedian Tom Ballard discusses Australian Federal Elections, leftist movements centering Indigenous people, corporate DE&I issues, and solving racism with host Nidhi Kalaiya in this interview episode.
24 Jun 2025
9. JODIE HALL - not your token digital campaigner
Digital Campaigner Jodie Hall discusses the importance of educational spaces to combat misinformation about trans communities and challenges within progressive spaces in an interview with Nidhi Kalaiya.
2 Jun 2025
8. PRABHA - not your token lawyer
Human rights lawyer Prabha Nandagopal discusses the challenges of driving systemic change in predominantly white spaces and building her own consulting company in this interview with Nidhi Kalaiya.
26 May 2025
7. EMMA PEI YIN - not your token author
Author Emma Pei Yin discusses the complexities of belonging as a Third Culture Kid and the scarcity mindset faced by women of color in publishing in an interview with Nidhi Kalaiya.
16 May 2025
6. CHELSEA WATEGO - not your token blackademic
Okay, I know we aren't meant to choose favourites, but this is might be one of my fav episodes yet. I had the honour to sit down with Dr Chelsea Watego, a proud Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman, for a chat. We got into all things academia as an Indigenous scholar, why cultural awareness just isn't cutting it, and why we need to shift from this need to “research” Indigenous cultures, but to see it as possibilities that help us reimagine our collective futures, grounded in Indigenous sovereignty. And, bringing it all together through the power and necessity of Black Joy as a practice.
Dr Chelsea Watego is a prolific writer, educator, thinker, activist - among many things. She is the author of Another Day in the Colony, director of the Institute of Collaborative Race Research (ICRR), Executive Director of QUT's Carumba institute - providing a world class Indigenous research and educational environment that foregrounds Indigenous sovereignty, and most importantly, a proud mum to five beautiful children.
You can follow and support her work here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/little_miss_watego/
Website: https://chelseawatego.au/
Carumba Institute: https://www.qut.edu.au/research/carumba-institute
And while you are at it, follow @notyourtokenhire on the gram.
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Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujarati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!
9 May 2025
5. LESLIE V - not your token life coach
This episode explores all things life coaching. Starting with questioning it all, what is life coaching really all about? Is it another pyramid scheme that tells you to manifest your way to success? Or, do we all have to wake up at 5am, hit the gym to reach our goals?
We sat with Leslie Crudup Villagarcia, a certified life coach to talk about her journey in this space, from the overly toxic positive messaging to spiritual bypassing and why it needs to adopt a holistic understanding that doesn't ignore neurodivergent folks and co-opt the cultures of racially marginalised individuals.
Leslie is a proud queer, polyamorous woman, an ally for marginalised groups, and an outspoken advocate for racial and social equity. As a 'no nonsense' life coach, her approach is to guide people through an holistic, intersectional lens. She's also the host of the podcast, 'Thriving between the lines' which examines personal development books through the lens of intersectionality, making self help content more accessible and relatable.
Check out her website: https://leslievcoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslievcoaching/
And while you are at it, follow @notyourtokenhire on the gram.
___________
Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujarati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning performative activism and if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!
28 Apr 2025
4. SHYAIRE - not your token writer
Episode 4 takes us on Shyaire's journey as the 'funny, foreign, queer' girl. We talk about who gets to be an individual, who gets to explore their creativity, and why do we feel that we can only call ourselves writers once we are acknowledged by white publishers and colonial institutions?
Shyaire is a writer, a comedian, slam poet, speaker, with a knack for turning stereotypes on their head. The brainchild behind the monthly comedy show, 'Funny For Comedy.' She also produced and performed at Edinburgh Fringe with a successful show featured on BBC Asia, Brown Women Comedy. Shy will be publishing two books in 2025 (fiction and poetry) thanks to a Creative Australia grant.
Learn more about Shy and support her work:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shyreesays/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shyaire/
And while you are at it, follow @notyourtokenhire on the gram.
___________
Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujurati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning performative activism and if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!
17 Apr 2025
3. RUHEE - not your token yogi
We're back with another episode and this time we are talking about the cultural appropriation of the yoga & wellness industry. We are joined by Ruhee – a certified yoga teacher from India and the founder of Allied Collective, Australia's first inclusive and wellbeing facilitation agency. We unpack the co-option of a 5000 year old spiritual practice and why yoga is a lot more than "namastay in bed" t-shirts and overpriced yoga pants. Ruhee also gets real about her own journey as a yoga teacher and the challenges she faced breaking into the industry in Australia.
Enjoyed the episode? Hit like, subscribe and give us a rating.
Learn more about Ruhee's work:
www.alliedcollective.com.au
Follow her on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliedcollective
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruheem/
And while you are at it, follow @notyourtokenhire on the gram.
___________
Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujurati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning performative activism and if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!
2 Apr 2025
2. EMMAGNESS - not your token marketing strategist
In conversation with Emmagness Ruzvidzo, this episode explores all things marketing, from cultural currency to social change. We sat down with the founder of Vaka, Queensland's 40 under 40 and the co-founder of Women of Colour Founders Network to talk about how marketing shapes our world and why companies need Diversity, Equity and Inclusion not just to thrive, but to survive out there. And why is needs to move beyond performative check boxes.
Learn more about Emmagness and her incredible work:
www.vaka.com.au
Follow her on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagness/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmagness/
And while you are at it, follow @notyourtokenhire on instragram.
___________
Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujurati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning performative activism and if a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!
19 Mar 2025
1. REMAH - not your token political candidate
In this first episode, we explore the complexities of being migrant living on stolen land, the importance of community, Palestinian solidarity and why we need more women of colour in politics.
Remah Naji is the Greens candidate for the Federal seat of Moreton, and if elected, will be the first Palestinian-Australian represented in Federal Parliament.
Support and follow Remah's campaign:
👉🏾 https://www.remahformoreton.com/
👉🏾 https://www.instagram.com/remah4moreton/
And while you are at it, follow @notyourtokenhire on instragram.
___________
Hosted by Nidhi Kalaiya, a Kenyan-Gujurati living on Turrbal and Yugerra Country. Not Your Token Hire is space for real, unfiltered conversations about our experiences in the workplace and beyond. From the load of existing in mostly white spaces to questioning performative activism and whether a seat at the table is worth it in this capitalist hellscape. And whether we can truly decolonise the workplace!
16 Mar 2025
soft launch
Introducing the Not Your Token Hire podcast, genesis of it all and the person behind the mic... (I'll be honest, I'm just happy we made it here!)
Who has been a guest on Not Your Token Hire
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jamila Rizvi
Huda Fadlelmawla
Tom Ballard
Jodie Hall
Prabha Nandagopal
Podcast Authority Score: 19 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
38
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Host of Not Your Token Hire?
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