In this episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast, Rhodes Perry invites listeners to shift their relationship with gratitude—from a passive reaction when things go well to an intentional practice of resilience. Drawing on the rich sensory experiences of a recent pilgrimage to India, Rhodes guides listeners through a deep, 20-minute somatic meditation designed to metabolize safety and build the resilience required to lead through collapse and chaos.

Rather than bypassing the difficulties of leadership or "white-knuckling" through stress, Rhodes challenges leaders to ground themselves in the material, the communal, and the spiritual to access a generative state. This episode offers a sanctuary for the busy executive mind, teaching you to show up in your own power, express yourself without apology, and claim the agency you need to be the authentic leader your team is waiting for and needs.

Key Reflections & Timestamps:

• [0:00] The Practice of Gratitude: Why gratitude is a mood we must practice to build leadership resilience, not just a reaction to good news.

• [3:00] Grounding in the Material: A somatic inquiry into the Earth and systems that support us, allowing leaders to feel held without needing to control everything.

• [7:00] The Community of Trust: Visualizing the mentors and guides who create safety, and how to metabolize that support to lower hyper-vigilance.

• [11:00] The Sky & Spirit: Expanding perspective beyond the immediate "to-do" list to access intuition and the bigger picture.

• [15:00] Unapologetic Self-Gratitude: A powerful invitation to thank yourself for your own courage, healing, and the choice to prioritize authenticity over people-pleasing.

• [18:00] Integration & Affirmations: Locking in the generative state to carry into your next meeting or decision.

🎉 Build Your Somatic Leadership Capacity. Join our next monthly belonging practice and gain the somatic leadership skills you need to become the strong, wise, grounded leader your team needs you to be. Save your seat! https://belongingatwork.kartra.com/page/comp-somatics

🚀 The Roads Less Traveled Coaching Cohort: As we move through 2026, the demand for embodied leadership is higher than ever. This high-touch program is designed for leaders ready to build the somatic muscle memory required to lead through complexity. Join the waitlist for our next intake to secure your spot in this intimate incubator for deep transformation. [Join Waitlist Here: https://forms.gle/nagESmTUNyWvUVzt5]

📚 Get the Books: Dive deeper into the methodology by picking up Rhodes' bestselling books, Belonging at Work and Imagine Belonging. [Shop Here: https://www.rhodesperry.com/book]

📧 Stay Connected: Be the first to receive updates on new resources, events, and future cohorts by joining the community: [Join the Belonging Movement Newsletter: https://www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe]

Thank You for Growing the #BelongingMovement!

In this episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast, Rhodes Perry invites listeners into the "liminal space"—that unique, quiet week between the holidays and the New Year. Using the metaphor of the "monkey bars," Rhodes explores the terrifying but necessary moment of suspension where we must let go of the past (2025) before we can firmly grasp the future (2026).

Rather than rushing to fill this silence with strategic plans and checklists, Rhodes challenges leaders to stop "white-knuckling" clinging to the old tools of leadership and instead learn how to swing with the chaos. This episode features a 10-minute guided somatic visioning practice to help you regulate your nervous system, release the tension of the past year, and embody the wise, grounded leader your team needs. Rhodes also officially introduces his new Roads Less Traveled Coaching Cohort, an intimate, 6-week incubator for deep transformation.

Key Reflections & Timestamps:

• [0:00] Entering the "Liminal Space": Navigating the quiet week between years.

• [1:15] The "Monkey Bar" Metaphor: Why we feel suspended between letting go and grabbing hold.

• [2:45] The trap of "White-Knuckling": Why old checklists and strategies are failing to hold the weight of the moment.

• [4:10] Introducing the Roads Less Traveled Coaching Cohort: Moving from doing the work to being the leader your team needs you to be.

• [6:30] Guided Visioning Practice Begins: shifting attention inward and finding ground.

• [7:30] Visioning 2026: A somatic inquiry into who you want to become next December.

• [10:15] The Somatic Marker: Teaching your nervous system that it is safe to let go.

• [14:00] Integration: Two invitations to continue this work in the New Year.

🎉 Own Your Power in 2026 Ready to stop reacting to the storm and start becoming the strong, wise, ground leader your team needs?

• 🚀 The Roads Less Traveled Cohort (Apply Now): Applications are officially open for the inaugural 6-week incubator launching in February 2026. This high-touch program is designed for leaders ready to build the somatic muscle memory required to lead through complexity. Special Alumni & Early bonuses expire Dec 31! [Apply Here: https://forms.gle/nagESmTUNyWvUVzt5]

• 📚 Get the Books: Dive deeper into the methodology by picking up Rhodes' bestselling books, Belonging at Work and Imagine Belonging. [Shop Here: https://www.rhodesperry.com/book]

• 📧 Stay Connected: Be the first to receive updates on the new book and future cohorts by joining the community: [Join the Belonging Movement Newsletter: https://www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe]

Thank You for Growing the Belonging Movement!

In this episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast, Rhodes Perry reflects on the creation and impact of his first book, 'Belonging at Work,' published on World Kindness Day in 2018. He discusses the evolution of workplace belonging and previews his upcoming book, 'Roads Less Traveled,' a memoir and methodology guide for real transformation.

Rhodes shares his writing process through automatic writing, celebrates the milestone of 10 years growing the belonging movement, and offers various opportunities for listeners to celebrate and engage with his work, including special promotions for his books, coaching offers, and a new group coaching program.

Join Rhodes in exploring the essential skills needed to build cultures of safety, trust, and belonging in these transformative times.

• [1:15] Celebrating World Kindness Day and the 7-year anniversary of Belonging at Work.

• [2:55] Why the message of belonging resonates more profoundly now than ever before.

• [5:45] Reflecting on the book's journey as a "budding tween" that shows up for leaders.

• [8:55] The writing practice of Automatic Writing—silencing the internal editor.

• [14:15] The initial concern that "belonging" might be "too abstract" or "too woo."

• [16:05] Recognizing that workplace belonging is the number one prerequisite for success.

• [17:20] The difference between culture change and transformation (the focus of Imagine Belonging).

• [20:15] Announcing the newest book: Roads Less Traveled—a memoir and methodology guide for transformation.

• [23:30] Transformation is a path of growth, often found in moments when things are collapsing or challenging.

Gain the skills to become the person you need to be to meet this moment: someone capable and willing to build spaces of safety, trust, and belonging!

• 📚 Read the Belonging Books (Digital Sale!): From November 17th through December 8th, the e-book versions of Belonging at Work and Imagine Belonging are part of a special 99-cent flash sale!

• ✍️ 25% Off Signed Paperbacks & Digital Products: Visit Rhodes's website and use code BELONG25 at checkout for a discount on signed paperback copies and other digital products: https://www.rhodesperry.com/courses

• 🏆 Belonging Coaching Offer (1:1 Support): Rhodes is accepting 10 new clients for his final winter Belonging Coaching Offer at its current price point. Clarify your vision and set up a complimentary call today! Complete this intake

• 🗓️ Roads Less Traveled Group Coaching Info Session: Save the Date! Join a complimentary info session on Wednesday, December 17th, at 10:00 am PT to learn about the new exclusive group coaching program launching in February, where participants will co-create and test content from the upcoming book!

• 📧 Sign up for the Newsletter: Be the first to receive the registration link and details for the group coaching info session: Join the Belonging Movement Newsletter

Are you a CEO struggling to protect your brand's values in today's political climate? In this essential episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast, host Rhodes Perry interviews MMG Earth CEO, Mckenzie Mack, and former Reddit CEO, Ellen Pao, about their groundbreaking report, "DEI Now: Leading with Integrity and Inclusion."

Discover why setting clear "red lines," or boundaries rooted in your values, is a strategic necessity, not just an ethical choice. Learn how to avoid the "wrong side of history" by applying lessons from the past, and learn how to apply them to mitigate risk while preserving your brand's reputation. This episode shows leaders they are not powerless, offering insights on the critical role of customers, employees, and shareholders in upholding integrity and building trust.

Key Takeaways & Timestamps:

• [4:50] The three groups of companies navigating the political difficulty.

• [6:45] Defining "Red Lines": Boundaries leaders refuse to compromise on.

• [9:15] Aligning business actions with company values (e.g., avoiding conflicting contracts).

• [11:15] Historical lessons: Avoiding the "wrong side of history" (The "frog in the hot water pot" analogy).

• [18:30] The role of employees: How to advocate for values without taking on too much labor.

• [22:15] The role of shareholders: How public votes are forcing companies to define their commitment.

Grow the Belonging Movement!

• 📖Read the report, DEI Now, here: https://projectinclude.org/assets/pdf/Project-Include-DEI-Now.pdf

• 🎧Listen to our DEI New Era podcast minisode here: https://www.rhodesperry.com/newera

• 📝Sign up for the Belonging Movement Newsletter: http://www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe

• 📚Get a copy of Imagine Belonging: http://www.rhodesonamazon.com/

🏆Book a 1:1 coaching session with Rhodes: https://tinyurl.com/5n6f47pz

Are you struggling with how to talk about your organization's DEI commitments in today's volatile climate? In this episode of the "Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's New Reality" mini-series, host Rhodes Perry offers message-tested communication strategies to fortify the heart of your work.

Discover how to take a "Goldilocks approach," balancing what you say to different audiences to avoid legal risks while protecting your brand's reputation. Learn why the full phrase "diversity, equity, and inclusion" is more powerful than the acronym "DEI" and how to frame your initiatives around universal values like fairness, respect, and belonging.

This episode gives you the practical tools to navigate challenging conversations, counter divisive narratives, and ensure your message resonates with everyone.

• [2:00] The "Goldilocks approach" to DEI messaging.

• [4:30] Organizational development best practices for communications.

• [7:00] Winning messages that resonate across audiences.

• [10:15] The power of using full words over the "DEI" acronym.

• [12:00] Using "targeted universalism" to fortify your work.

• [14:30] Practices to avoid when communicating about DEI.

• 📝Sign up for the Belonging Movement Newsletter: http://www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe

• 📚Get a copy of Imagine Belonging: http://www.rhodesonamazon.com/

🏆Book a 1:1 coaching session with Rhodes: https://tinyurl.com/5n6f47pz

In a climate where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals are facing unprecedented challenges, how can leaders continue to build spaces of belonging? This exclusive mini-series, Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's New Reality, inspired by a toolkit originally for Fortune 100 leaders, is your roadmap!

Host and creator of the Imagine Belonging Podcast, Rhodes Perry, a nationally recognized belonging culture thought leader, offers the essential guidance you need to navigate the shifting landscape of legal challenges, evolving rhetoric, and evolving workforce strategies.

This introductory episode sets the stage, exploring the historical roots of diversity, equity, and inclusion and why its foundational values are more critical than ever. We'll dive into the laws that shaped this field, from the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to the Respect for Marriage Act, and reveal how this work helps everyone—immigrants, people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, Veterans, and others—get a fair shot.

You'll gain practical strategies to:

• Center the business relevance of your culture building work

• Stay informed on key legal and policy shifts in this dynamic landscape

• Monitor public discourse without making uninformed statements

• Avoid the temptation of working in isolation

This mini-series will equip you with the courage, courage, and commitment to become the leader you've been waiting for - the kind of leader our world deserves, especially now.

• 📝Sign up for the Belonging Movement Newsletter: http://www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe

• 📚Get a copy of Imagine Belonging: http://www.rhodesonamazon.com/

• 🏆Book a 1:1 coaching session with Rhodes: https://tinyurl.com/5n6f47pz

Thanks for growing the #BelongingMovement!

Are you confident your organization's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are legally sound? In this episode of the Imagine Belonging Podcast mini-series, "Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's New Reality," we explore the shifting legal landscape and what it means for your workplace. Host Rhodes Perry provides a clear-eyed analysis of the legal attacks on workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, including recent court rulings, executive actions, and congressional proposals.

This episode gives you the essential legal context to fortify your diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Rhodes will demystify recent judicial decisions like the U.S. Supreme Court's Students for Fair Admissions ruling and explain the three-pronged legal test (aka, "the three p's") to determine if your programming is at risk. You'll learn best practices for conducting legal audits and how to build a strategic advisory team to protect your organization.

Tune in to discover how to mitigate legal and reputational risks while strengthening your commitment to advancing your organization's belonging strategy.

• [2:15] Overview of the legal landscape impacting DEI

• [4:00] Analysis of the SFFA and Muldrow v. City of St. Louis Supreme Court decisions

• [6:30] Impact of Executive and Congressional actions

• [9:00] Best practices for fortifying your DEI work

• [11:00] The "three p's" legal test for discrimination claims

• [14:20] Practices to avoid to mitigate risk

• 📝Sign up for the Belonging Movement Newsletter: http://www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe

• 📚Get a copy of Imagine Belonging: http://www.rhodesonamazon.com/

🏆Book a 1:1 coaching session with Rhodes: https://tinyurl.com/5n6f47pz

In this episode of the Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's New Reality mini-series, we're talking about something every leader needs to be aware of: the profound impact of collective trauma and grief on your workforce. Host Rhodes Perry shares how the current climate amplifies fear and anxiety, disrupting the very fabric of trust and psychological safety in the workplace.

This episode provides actionable, trauma-informed strategies to support your employees. You'll learn how to:

• Provide psychological safety first aid.

• Acknowledge and validate employees' grief.

• Model collective care by giving support and requesting it.

By implementing these best practices, you can help your team cope with the ongoing challenges and build an enduring culture of creativity, connection, and belonging. Don't ignore the hidden impacts on your workforce—listen now to learn how to lead with empathy and clarity.

• [2:00] Defining collective trauma and its impact on the workforce.

• [4:30] Best practices for bolstering psychological safety.

• [7:00] How to practice collective care and cope with trauma.

• [9:45] Best practices for acknowledging and validating employee grief.

• [12:15] Practices to avoid when addressing collective trauma.'

• 📝Sign up for the Belonging Movement Newsletter: http://www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe

• 📚Get a copy of Imagine Belonging: http://www.rhodesonamazon.com/

🏆Book a 1:1 coaching session with Rhodes: https://tinyurl.com/5n6f47pz