Navigating Subtle Acts of Exclusion: Dr. Baran on Culture Change and Inclusion
Feb 10, 2026Shownotes For Podcast Episode 27: Navigating Subtle Acts of Exclusion: Dr. Baran on Culture Change and Inclusion
In this episode of The Health and Wellness Coach Journal Podcast, Dr. Jessica Singh is joined by Dr. Michael Baran, social scientist and CEO of Iris Inclusion. Through his speaking engagements, writings, consulting, leadership development, workshop facilitation, and digital products, he and his diverse team help organizations build cultures of inclusion, psychological safety, innovation, and performance. Before making the shift to full-time consulting work, he taught courses at Harvard University and the University of Michigan, and he worked as an applied researcher at the FrameWorks Institute and the American Institutes of Research. His book, Subtle Acts of Exclusion: How to Understand, Identify, and Stop Microaggressions was coauthored with Dr. Tiffany Jana. The book has won several awards, has been a Hudson News and Amazon bestseller, and has been named by Forbes as one of “11 Books to Read to Be a More Inclusive Leader.”
Learning Inclusion by Living It: Dr. Baran on Fieldwork, Culture, and Understanding
In this episode, Dr. Baran shares how his journey into inclusion work began with curiosity about inequity, exclusion, and belonging. This curiosity led him to doctoral research in cultural anthropology, extensive fieldwork in Brazil, and eventually to applied research, teaching, and consulting with organizations seeking meaningful culture change.
He shares how cultural anthropology fieldwork in Brazil shaped the way he understands culture, not as something abstract, but as something tangible that you can feel, assess, and study. Living in a place that was not home forced him to stumble, learn, and rebuild confidence from the ground up. Over time, the unfamiliar became familiar, and then another shift happened when he returned home and realized his original culture now looked different through new eyes. That experience gave him a foundation many people never get: the ability to see culture as something that can change.
Subtle Acts of Exclusion: Dr. Baran on Reframing Microaggressions
Subtle acts of exclusion is a framework Dr. Baran co-developed with Dr. Jana as a more accessible and actionable alternative to the term microaggressions. He explains how subtle acts of exclusion often emerge from a disconnect between intent and impact—moments where someone may be trying to connect, help, or compliment, yet the interaction lands as hurtful, stressful, or exclusionary. Over time, these repeated experiences can have significant mental, physical, and organizational consequences. In this podcast episode, Dr. Baran shares why reframing the language has helped reduce defensiveness, increase buy-in, and create more productive conversations about culture and inclusion.
When Culture Shifts: Dr. Baran on Buy-In and Impact
Dr. Baran shares that when the language becomes clearer, the emotional tone in the room changes too. He describes seeing relief in audiences, sometimes even tears, because people suddenly feel like they can finally talk about these experiences and actually be heard. The subtle acts of exclusion framework helps those who are impacted feel less alone, and it helps those who want to do better feel less trapped by fear of getting it wrong. Over time, that shift creates buy-in, not because people are forced into it, but because they can finally understand what is happening and why it matters.
Dr. Baran on Navigating Inclusion in Uncertain Political Times
The episode also touches on the cultural moment we are in, and how politicized language can create confusion and resistance. Dr. Baran speaks candidly about the challenges leaders face, the fears surrounding DEI terminology, and why clear, human-centered language matters now more than ever. When we talk plainly about fairness, inclusion, and psychological safety, people recognize these as universal human needs and not political positions.
Dr. Baran on Approaching Subtle Acts of Exclusion as Human Learning Moments
A message that stands out is how strongly Dr. Baran emphasizes humanity. Subtle acts of exclusion are not framed as evidence that someone is a bad person. They are framed as moments that will happen in any human environment because we do not automatically know what life feels like for someone else. The goal is not perfection. The goal is building a shared culture where feedback can be received without defensiveness or blame.
Building Inclusion in Healthcare: Dr. Baran's Culture Change Work at Tufts Medical Center
One of the most powerful parts of our conversation is his culture change work at Tufts Medical Center. In the aftermath of the pandemic, when clinicians were exhausted and stretched beyond capacity, Dr. Baran approached effecting culture change with deep empathy. Instead of adding pressure, he created space for healing, listening, and rebuilding trust. His work is a reminder that inclusion is not an “extra task” but integral to caring for people—patients and colleagues alike.
Coaches as Culture Shapers: Dr. Baran on Inclusion in Practice
For coaches, this episode offers practical relevance. Dr. Baran explains that coaches may work with people who want to become more inclusive leaders but do not yet know how to respond in real time. Coaches may also work with people who have caused harm and are being required to address it. In both cases, the work starts with understanding.
Takeaways
This conversation reminds us that inclusion is not only a value statement, it is a daily practice. Subtle acts of exclusion often happen quietly, but their impact accumulates, shaping who feels safe, who feels seen, and who stays. The hopeful part is that culture is not fixed and can change to become more inclusive.
Whether coaches support leaders in healthcare, corporate environments, or community settings, they play a key role in shaping culture. Coaches help people build emotional awareness, respond with steadiness, and navigate difficult conversations with compassion. Each one of us can help individuals see where exclusion may be occurring—and where they have the power to create safety.
Resources Mentioned In This Episode
- Jana, T. and Baran, M. (2023) Subtle Acts of Exclusion: How to Understand, Identify, and Stop Microaggressions. 2nd ed. Oakland, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Bio:
Dr. Michael Baran is a social scientist and CEO of Iris Inclusion. Through his speaking engagements, writings, consulting, leadership development, workshop facilitation, and digital products, he and his diverse team help organizations build cultures of inclusion, psychological safety, innovation, and performance. Before making the shift to full-time consulting work, he taught courses at Harvard University and the University of Michigan, and he worked as an applied researcher at the FrameWorks Institute and the American Institutes of Research. His work has been covered in the New York Times, Forbes, CNN, NPR, and more.
His book, Subtle Acts of Exclusion: How to Understand, Identify, and Stop Microaggressions was coauthored with Dr. Tiffany Jana with a second edition released in 2023. The book has won several awards, has been a Hudson News and Amazon bestseller, and has been named by Forbes as one of “11 Books to Read to Be a More Inclusive Leader.” His podcast, The Culture Advantage, was just recently launched in August 2025.
Timestamps:
0 - 2:01 Introduction
2:02 - Learning Inclusion by Living It: Dr. Baran on Fieldwork, Culture, and Understanding
6:35 - From Research to Practice: Dr. Baran on Workplace Culture Change and Inclusion
9:38 - Subtle Acts of Exclusion: Dr. Baran on Reframing Microaggressions
14:09 - When Culture Shifts: Dr. Baran on Buy-In and Impact
18:43 - Dr. Baran on Navigating Inclusion in Uncertain Political Times
22:25 - Dr. Baran on Approaching Subtle Acts of Exclusion as Human Learning Moments
24:56 - Building Inclusion in Healthcare: Dr. Baran’s Culture Change Work at Tufts Medical Center
30:13 - Coaches as Culture Shapers: Dr. Baran on Inclusion in Practice
35:54 - Takeaways
