The Urgency of Awareness Podcast

S3 | Ep7: Season Finale – Building Your Future Story

As we wrap up this incredible season of The Urgency of Awareness, we’re diving into one of my favorite tools from Chapter 4 of the book. This episode is all about identifying your "now," creating a compelling future story, and crafting a plan to make that vision a reality.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
How to use this tool at an individual, institutional, or community-wide level.
Why this is the tool to help you stay focused and on track as we enter the new year.
Tips for aligning your goals with a future story that truly resonates with you.
Why It’s TimelyAs the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect moment to reflect, reset, and map out your aspirations for 2025. Let’s gear up to make your goals actionable and achievable.
We Want to Hear From YouWhat would you like to see more (or less) of in 2025? Visit us at jpfarr.com today!
 

S3 | Ep6: Navigating Emotions on the Path to Awareness

The journey of awareness is filled with feelings at every turn. In this episode, we revisit the 4-step tool for processing emotions, first introduced in Season 1 and dive deeper into its application with the insights of special guest Monica Reinagel.
 
Together, we explore the nuanced patterns of feelings across different identities and emphasize the importance of releasing judgment around emotions to uncover the why behind them.
 
What to listen for:
A refresher on the 4-step process for navigating feelings (see Season 1)
How feelings like shame or guilt often surface when those with normalized dominant identities realize they've unintentionally excluded non-dominant identities
Why jumping straight into "fix-it" mode can hinder our ability to build emotional resilience.
 
Tune in to deepen your awareness and learn how to process feelings with greater intention.

S3 | Ep5: How Do Your Identities Intersect and Shape Your Daily Experiences?

In this episode, our special guests Kathy and Angel Tucker, along with John Shank, explore the nuanced challenges of balancing intersecting identities. They delve into how being male (a normalized dominant identity) intersects with being a male of color (a non-normalized identity), sharing insights on how societal messages have shaped their careers, perceptions in moments of conflict, and even their approach to parenting.
 
Without increased awareness, normalized identities often overshadow or challenge the experiences of others. Discover tools like the One Picture Phenomenon and the 4-Step Process to help you deepen your understanding and drive meaningful change in your workplace and beyond.
 
What You’ll Learn:
How history is often narrated through normalized dominant identities
The struggles of navigating multiple, intersecting identities
A deeper dive into the One Picture Phenomenon (with a reference to its first discussion in a prior episode)

S3 | Ep4: Shifting Identities with John Shank

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with John Shank, who once embodied all 18 normalized dominant identities—but no longer does.
In this episode, we explore how identities shift over time, often bringing feelings of anger, loss, and the need to adapt. These changes provide unique insights into the lifelong adaptability required by those with non-dominant identities. Together, we’ll discuss how to create space for others—free of judgment—and recognize the ways people navigate the evolution of their identities.
 
What to listen for:
What happens when your normalized dominant identities begin to shift
Why identity changes can feel more challenging for those who’ve predominantly held normalized dominant identities
A 4-step tool to process complex emotions (first introduced in Season 1, Episode 5)
Don’t miss this deep dive into identity, change, and empathy. Tune in now!

S3 | Ep3: Challenging Societal Messages: The Truth About Male Identity

What messages has society taught you about your identity? Often, these messages reinforce stereotypes—like the idea that males must be “protectors” and “providers” who suppress their emotions.
In this episode, our special guests, John Schenk, along with Angel and Kathy Tucker, dive deep into these narratives, sharing their experiences of what it truly means to be male. Together, we explore how societal expectations can hold us hostage to identity stereotypes—and how becoming more aware of these messages allows us to challenge and redefine them.
What to listen for:
How societal messages shape and internalize our identities
The power of listening to understand vs. reacting
Insights on role reversals
Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that will inspire you to see identity through a new lens!

S3 | Ep 2: How Our Identities Shape Work, Connection, and Understanding with John Shank

Our identities shape how we interact with the individuals, institutions and communities in our societal system. This episode features our special guest, John, who grew up with all 18 normalized dominant identities.
Explore how your identities impact the messages you’ve received from the societal system. The conversation will help you gain tools to create an environment for rich dialogue with others - instead of getting trapped in polarized conversations.  Build your capacity to create safe spaces for rich conversations in your personal and professional lives.
What to listen for
Hear the perspective of someone who holds all 18  normalized dominant identities (include link to triangles in book?)
Different identities have different perspectives – which creates different lived experiences and realities
Individuals with non-normalized identities are frequently adjusting and are more used to being uncomfortable or not bringing their whole self to a conversation
What are the patterns of who gets promoted in your institution? How do normalized dominant identities influence decisions?

S3 | Ep1: Awareness at Work: How Deepening Self-Insight Transforms Your Approach

Hear from special guest Monica Reinagel, founder of the Nutrition Diva podcast and The Change Academy Podcast. This episode explores how to expand your capacity to view your field, workplace, and colleagues from new perspectives. By becoming more aware of our individual experiences, we can better appreciate the gift of hearing perspectives different from our own—without needing to justify or defend.
 
What’s the impact? Greater capacity for meaningful and gratifying connections in the workplace and beyond.
 
What to listen for:
How the “lifestyle medicine” movement must acknowledge that health, food, and nutrition choices are influenced by the identities people hold.
How the validity we assign to research reflects the societal systems and identities we’ve experienced.
A compelling example from the Menominee community that shows research isn’t the only source of truth.
Practical strategies to build capacity for embracing different perspectives—without judgment or defensiveness.
How workplace busyness often prevents employees from recognizing, listening to, and learning from the diverse identities that make up their teams.

EP6(S2): Understanding Health from Macro to Micro with Registered Dietitian Maya Feller

In the season finale of our Health series, we’re joined by Registered Dietitian Maya Feller, who takes us on a journey to explore health at both the macro and micro levels. Maya highlights how larger institutions shape individual choices and health outcomes within their frameworks.
 
This episode encourages leaders and employees alike to reflect on the impact of workplace wellness initiatives, as a healthy workforce is essential for any organization’s success.
 
Looking to take control of your nutrition and health? Check out Maya Feller’s on-demand course, which offers nutrition and health education at your own pace. Learn more today!
 
What to listen for:
How normalized identities can expand access to personal choices, emphasizing the critical intersection between institutional policies and individual well-being.
Tips for balancing institutional perspectives with individual experiences.
Insights to enhance the health of your workplace and, ultimately, the lives of those within it.

EP5(S2): Beyond Good and Bad: Rethinking Food, Health, and Society

Food is complex, but too often we oversimplify by bucketing it as “good” or “bad.” When we stop this “either/or” thinking, we can consider a broader question: What is right for you in the moment that you are in?  Dive into the conversation with wellness professional JC Lippold and Leslie Bonci, former nutrition consultant to the NFL.
 
What to listen for: 
Explore how our institutions and the policies within our societal system shape how we think about food and health
Hear how the health industry perpetuates the “good” or “bad” labels.

EP4(S2): Navigating Nutrition: The Truth Behind Health Fads

Have you ever tried a health fad that promised to be the "right" way to eat? We're joined by special guest Maya Feller, a renowned dietitian, to dive into the long-standing habit of labeling food as either "good" or "bad." Tune in to challenge the norms, broaden your perspective on food, and discover a more balanced, informed approach to nutrition!
 
What to listen for
Unpack how societal systems and food hierarchies have shaped health trends over the years, often reinforcing misleading beliefs
Hear how to create truly nutrient-rich meals without falling into the trap of fad diets and restrictive labels
Looking to take control of your nutrition and health? Check out Maya Feller’s on-demand course, offering nutrition & health education at your own pace. Learn more today!