Why Inclusion Is Merit-Based | Michael Bach Breaks the DEI Myths

Episode Notes

🎙️ In this episode of The Weird Canadian, I sit down with bestselling author and global DEI expert Michael Bach to talk about the real meaning of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (IDEA) — and how it’s being dangerously misunderstood in today’s culture wars.

We get real about: ✅ The myth that inclusion undermines merit ✅ Why early DEI frameworks are critical for startups ✅ Pronouns, respect, and ripple effects in workplace culture ✅ Canadian identity, U.S. politics, and sovereignty ✅ What real leadership looks like in an inclusive company

Michael shares insights from decades of work in the field — including his roles at KPMG, Pride at Work Canada, and the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. If you're trying to build a business, manage a team, or just be a decent human — this one’s for you.

📚 Learn more about Michael: https://michaelbach.com 📖 Check out his books: Birds of All Feathers & Alphabet Soup

🔔 Subscribe for more bold, weird, soul-aligned convos: @TheWeirdCanadian

📌 Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro to Michael Bach 01:20 – The biggest myth about DEI 03:15 – Canada, sovereignty & inclusion under threat 05:00 – How to build inclusive companies from the start 07:30 – Why leadership means not knowing everything 10:00 – Respect, pronouns & the mental health impact 14:30 – Michael’s final message & how to take action

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments — let’s get uncomfortable, respectfully.

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