Our True Colors: Mixed Race Voices and Other Stories of Belonging

Our True Colors: Mixed Race Voices and Other Stories of Belonging

Our True Colors is a podcast about identity, belonging, and life in the in-between. We explore what it means to be mixed race, multiracial, multicultural, racially ambiguous — or to grow up across cultures, through adoption, or in any space where identity doesn’t fit neatly into a box. What’s it like to feel like you fit everywhere yet belong nowhere, all at the same time? If you or someone you love has ever been called a racial riddle, an ethnic enigma, or a cultural conundrum, this show is for you. Each season, host Dr. Shawna Gann — a business psychologist and storyteller — is joined by a new co-host who brings their own lens. Together with guests, they share candid conversations, family stories, and professional insights that remind us we don’t clock in and out of our identities. At its heart, Our True Colors is about connection: creating a space where mixed, multicultural, and cross-cultural voices can be heard, where belonging is explored, and where “otherness” becomes something powerful to claim. Our True Colors is an extension of True Culture Coaching & Consulting, Dr. Gann’s practice dedicated to building stronger, more inclusive workplace cultures. Learn more and connect at www.truecultureconsulting.com

Episodes

September 12, 2025 9 mins

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Welcome to Our True Colors. This brief introduction gives you the full picture of what the show is about, who I am, and what you can expect in every season.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why I started this podcast and what “racial riddle, ethnic enigma, and cultural conundrum” really mean.
  • How different co-hosts join me each season — and why that rotating perspective matters.
  • The kinds of stories you’ll hear, from ...
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If you’re new here, this short trailer will give you a taste of Our True Colors. You’ll hear how the show explores identity, belonging, and life in the in-between spaces.

Subscribe now and then check out the full Start Here episode for a deeper dive into what we’re about.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Continue the conversation on Instag...

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For the first time, I’m joined by my full family—my husband Chad and our kids, Christian and Ariana—in a double-length finale to close out Season 5 of Our True Colors.

We get into it all:

  • Identity, hair, and insecurities
  • What people assume about us as a couple
  • Family culture, music, and travel
  • How our kids make sense of their biracial identity
  • What it really means to belong

It’s funny, vulnerable, unscripted—and f...

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In this rich and vulnerable episode, Dr. Shawna Gann welcomes Belgian-French author, historian, and researcher Victoria Kabeya to discuss the complexities of multigenerationally mixed identity. From the trauma of slavery to the politics of racial categorization, Victoria shares personal stories, global insights, and the intellectual foundations behind her groundbreaking books. Together, they explore what it means to...

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This week, Dr. Shawna Gann—joined by her co-host Kat—welcomes Dr. Geoffrey Greif and Victoria Stubbs, LCSW-C, for a thoughtful and timely conversation about interracial and interethnic relationships, raising mixed-race children, and navigating identity across lines of race, culture, and experience.

The discussion is rooted in research and real-world insight from their forthcoming book When Family Relations ...

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In this episode of Our True Colors, Shawna is joined by co-host Rachel Sadler and special guest Ian Gibbs-Hall—a DEI advocate, thought leader, and creator of Curiosity Architecture. With over a decade of experience creating inclusive environments, Ian offers a fresh framework that invites us to move beyond checkboxes and binaries and into deeper, more curious ways of seeing one another.

Together, they explo...

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In this powerful episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann is joined by Cindy Ogasawara and Kara De Maine, leaders in the Resounding Love Interfaith Gospel Choir—a multiracial, interfaith, LGBTQ+ embracing choir grounded in African American musical traditions and active anti-racism practice.

Together, they explore:

  • The complexities of racial identity, especially for those with mixed or ambiguous backgr...
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In this episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann is joined by Hallie Pritchett — a public health leader, facilitator, and equity strategist — for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation about identity, belonging, and the challenges of showing up fully at work. Hallie reflects on growing up mixed-race in the Pacific Northwest, parenting a child who's already navigating complex identity questions, and ...

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In this episode, Shawna sits down with Londell Jackson—educator, strategist, and author of Between the Opposites—for a powerful conversation about the complexities of identity. From growing up mixed-race in Denver to navigating masculinity as a same-gender-loving Black and Latino man, Londell shares his deeply personal journey of self-discovery, cultural belonging, and emotional growth. Together, they explore themes...

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In this rich and candid episode of Our True Colors, Shawna is joined by Rachel, returning co-host and fellow deep thinker and wonderful guest Annemarie Shrouder, international speaker, facilitator, and bestselling author of Being Brown in a Black and White World.

Together, they explore what it means to hold a “both/and” identity—especially as mixed-race or multiracial individuals navigating a world obsessed...

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In this powerful conversation, Dr. Kalya Castillo—a Black and Japanese psychologist and trauma-informed therapist—joins Shawna to explore identity, racial ambiguity, and the lived experiences of multiracial individuals. Together, they unpack what it means to grow up without cultural mirrors, the coded messages around hair and professionalism, and how mixed-race identity can shape the way we’re seen, valued, and unde...

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In this episode, Dr. Shawna Gann and Rachel Sadler sit down with Urmi Hossain—polyglot, author, global citizen, and financial services professional—for a deep conversation about identity, cultural complexity, and belonging. Urmi, who describes herself as "Bengali by blood, Italian by birth, and Canadian by law", shares her experiences as a third culture person navigating family expectations, global transit...

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What does it mean to be a leader when traditional leadership models weren’t designed with you in mind? In this episode of Our True Colors, we sit down with Dr. Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, an educator, leadership expert, and founder of Untapped Leaders, to explore how identity shapes leadership.

Dr. Vazquez-Newsum shares her journey navigating leadership as a biracial woman, why mainstream leadership theories often exclude ...

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What does it mean to navigate the world as a mixed heritage individual when belonging feels just out of reach? In this episode, Shawna and co-host Kat Aragon welcome Marcel De Jonghe, Head of DEI&B for Europe’s largest local authority, to explore identity, belonging, and the intersections of race and culture. Marcel shares his personal journey as a Zimbabwean-Belgian navigating life in the UK, the challenges of ...

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In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Victoria K. Malaney-Brown, a scholar-practitioner at Columbia University and the first-ever Director of Academic Integrity for undergraduates at Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, joins us to explore the nuanced realities of multiracial identity. From her deeply personal poem "Outside of the Box" to her groundbreaking research on multiracial college students, ...

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In this episode, Shawna Gann is joined by graduate student Brieanna Hairston cohost Rachel Sadler. Together, they explore the complexities of racial identity, inclusion, and belonging through the lens of multiracial and racially ambiguous individuals.

Brieanna shares personal experiences growing up in a predominantly White area, navigating racial microaggressions from an early age, and finding her place in ...

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In this thought-provoking episode, Shawna sits down with Dr. Jenn Noble, psychologist, educator, and advocate for mixed-race families, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities in parenting mixed-race children. Together, they explore:

  • The nuances of mixed-race identity and how it shapes a child’s experience.
  • Why starting conversations about race with children isn’t as daunting as it seems.
  • How parents’ own...
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In this deeply reflective episode of Our True Colors, Shawna and guest Shari Baker dive into the emotional aftermath of the recent presidential election. Together, they unpack the complexities of identity, solidarity, and the nuances of navigating blackness in America. From the broader societal implications of the election to the personal journeys of mixed-race identity, Shawna and Shari offer a thought-provoking an...

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Summary

In this engaging conversation, Shawna, Rachel, and Kat introduce Hady Mendez, a DEI expert, who shares her journey and insights on employee resource groups, cultural wisdom, and the challenges of navigating racial identity. The discussion highlights the need for allyship, the evolving understanding of racial categories, and the significance of joy and community support in personal and professional g...

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In this insightful episode, Dr. Shawna Gann sits down with DEI experts Lauren Dike and Katrina Liew Wilson for a candid discussion on the shifting landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The conversation explores the evolving role of DEI in the workplace, the pressures of being a "talking head" in the field, and the challenges of racial and cultural identity. Lauren and Katrina share their per...

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