Outspoken Agency

04/22/2025

🌍🐝 This Earth Day, let’s talk about bees—and why they matter more than ever.

A recent article from WGBH dives into the ongoing decline of honeybee populations and how this could spell serious trouble for agriculture, our food systems, and ecosystems across the country. It’s a must-read reminder of just how interconnected our lives are with the tiniest creatures around us:
📖 Read it here: https://www.wgbh.org/news/national/2025-04-04/honeybee-decline-could-be-a-huge-problem-for-us-agriculture

One person leading the charge to protect pollinators—and bring science into action—is Dr. Noah Wilson-Rich, founder of The Best Bees Company and an inspiring advocate for sustainability and biodiversity.

Through his work and speaking engagements, Noah educates communities and companies about how we can all play a role in reversing the decline of pollinators. He even incorporates interactive honey tastings into his presentations, using HoneyDNA to explore the plants and flavors unique to each local environment. 🌸🍯

By learning the "terroir" of our neighborhoods, we discover that something as simple as planting native flowers can help save the bees—and change the flavor of our local honey!

💡 On this Earth Day, celebrate the small steps that make a big impact—and be inspired by those leading the way.

Bees contribute over $120 billion to the global economy each year in their role as pollinators.

03/31/2025

Outspoken speaker Paula Stone Williams, a leading voice on transgender issues, spoke with Colorado Public Radio about what it means to be trans under a second Trump administration, including the impact of recent policy changes on gender markers for passports.

On this International Transgender Day of Visibility, let’s reaffirm the importance of recognizing and supporting trans lives—especially in a time when rights and identities are increasingly under scrutiny.

https://www.cpr.org/show-segment/on-being-trans-under-trump-2-0/

Speaker, pastor, therapist, and Colorado elected official Paula Stone Williams discusses her experiences as a trans woman under the new administration. Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring that trans people do not exist. Williams, mayor pro tem of L...

02/25/2025

🌍 This Black History Month, rethink the future of work through a new lens.

The challenges of today—AI bias, leadership gaps, and systemic inequalities—demand bold voices and fresh perspectives. Our latest blog highlights five groundbreaking Black speakers who are reshaping leadership, innovation, and inclusion for a changing world.

✨ Featuring insights from:
🔹 Brandeis Marshall – Unpacking AI’s hidden biases
🔹 Jonathan Batiste – Using creativity to fuel leadership
🔹 Terence Keel – Rethinking public health and systemic bias
🔹 Watchen Nyanue – Building diverse, high-performing teams
🔹 Tayo Rockson – Mastering cross-cultural leadership

📚 Read more: www.outspokenagency.com/blog/2025/2/25/future-of-work-is-uncertain-these-speakers-help-navigate

In our latest blog, discover how today’s top thinkers are reshaping leadership, inclusion, and innovation this Black History Month | Future of Work | AI Bias | Creative Leadership | Inclusive Teams | Cross-Cultural Strategy | Rethinking Public Health

02/18/2025

🚨 RIP… DEI? | What Now? with Trevor Noah ft. Ruha Benjamin

Trevor Noah sits down with MacArthur Genius, Princeton professor, and Outspoken speaker Dr. Ruha Benjamin to challenge everything we think we know about DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), the future of academia, and the risks of AI.

They dive into pressing questions, including why DEI is under fire, who truly benefits from its downfall, and how institutions celebrate voices they once silenced. Plus, they explore how marginalized communities can navigate systems that were never built for them.

🔥 Key themes:
✔️ The real reason DEI is under attack—and who gains when it disappears.
✔️ The illusion of progress vs. actual systemic change.
✔️ AI’s growing influence on bias, education, and access to opportunity.

💬 “A more just world requires more than a reshuffling of the same old deck—it demands a new game entirely.” — Dr. Ruha Benjamin

🎧 Watch the full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VRCfuKEGdo

What do you think—is DEI broken, or are we asking the wrong questions? Let’s discuss. ⬇️

This week we speak with professor, sociologist, and MacArthur Fellowship winner Ruha Benjamin about some of the pressing political and social issues of the d...

02/14/2025

💞 Love is in the air, but so are misconceptions about race—many of which have been shaped by centuries of flawed science.

"Being blind to race isn’t possible in a society awash in racial stereotypes."

In her new book "What’s Real About Race?," Outspoken speaker and sociologist Rina Bliss unpacks how genetic and social research have entangled race in ways that continue to impact everything from healthcare to criminal justice. With sharp analysis and gripping storytelling, this Norton Short delivers a digestible but paradigm-shifting read—one that challenges what we think we know about race, genetics, and society.

This book isn’t just about debunking myths; it’s about reshaping how we understand race in science and policy. As leading scholars have already noted, it’s essential reading.

Dive into this book that will change the conversation - "What’s Real About Race?" is out now!

02/11/2025

The Power of Storytelling: What Kendrick Lamar’s Performance Teaches Us About Impactful Speaking

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance wasn’t just a show—it was a masterclass in storytelling. Through symbolism, emotion, and presence, he crafted a message that resonated deeply, especially for those who understood the layers beneath the music. The best speakers do the same. They don’t just share knowledge; they create experiences that engage, challenge, and inspire.

As we celebrate Black History Month, Lamar’s performance is a reminder of how storytelling shapes history, culture, and the way we understand the world. And while this month highlights Black voices, the ability to tell powerful, resonant stories is a skill that transcends background or industry. The speakers we work with—across business, policy, innovation, and culture—use storytelling to make complex ideas accessible, foster meaningful dialogue, and leave lasting impact on audiences.

If you're looking for speakers who bring this depth and resonance to the stage, we’ve got you covered.

Read more on our blog: www.outspokenagency.com/blog/2025/2/10/the-power-of-storytelling-what-kendrick-lamars-super-bowl-performance-teaches-us-about-impactful-speaking

02/05/2025

📚 Exciting book news! If you love thought-provoking reads, put this one on your radar: Rina Bliss’s upcoming book, What’s Real about Race?: Untangling Science, Genetics, and Society, just landed on the Next Big Idea Club’s must-read list for February 2025! 🎉

https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/next-big-idea-clubs-february-2025-must-read-books/52911/

Rina takes on one of today’s most pressing questions: Is race real? The answer is complex—while race isn’t rooted in biology, it profoundly shapes our lives. This book unpacks the science behind race, identity, and society in a way that will challenge what you think you know.

Mark your calendars for February 11, 2025, and get ready for a fascinating deep dive! What’s a book that has changed the way you see the world? Drop your recommendations below! 👇

01/29/2025

👀 History has seen this before…

In today’s Senate confirmation hearing for RFK Jr., echoes of a larger pattern in American political culture come into focus—one that cultural historian Natalia Petrzela expertly unpacks in her recent MSNBC piece. From RFK Jr. to Mehmet Oz, she explores how public figures have leveraged health fears to gain political influence, capitalizing on deep-seated anxieties in American life.

As RFK Jr. takes the spotlight in Washington, Natalia's historical lens offers crucial context on the intersection of wellness culture, misinformation, and political power.

📖 Read her full analysis here: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/rfk-jr-mehmet-oz-capitalized-americans-covid-worries-rcna180922

Kennedy and Oz give voice to their audiences’ frustrations with the insufficiency of our health care system to solve or address their most pressing problems

01/22/2025

Feeling the pressure to keep up with all the latest trends in event programming? You’re not alone. From hybrid work environments to multi-generational audiences, the future of events is calling for smarter—not necessarily more complicated—solutions.

In our latest blog, we break down how to navigate 2025’s biggest shifts with a clear, actionable approach that keeps things fresh, relevant, and impactful. Because innovation isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things well.

Plus check out innovation strategist Amer Iqbal featured in the blog. Amer can help your organization bridge the gap between strategy and ex*****on in innovation.

🔗 Read now: www.outspokenagency.com/blog/2025/1/21/innovation-overload-heres-how-to-simplify-success

💡 What’s your go-to strategy for balancing innovation with simplicity? Share in the comments!

01/16/2025

Practice makes perfect in team sports. So why don't we apply that same practice, as in practice, to business and teams?

High-functioning collectives, like elite sports teams, use practices to great effect.

Dive into why the it's always Game Time mentality doesn't work and how to implement Practice Time into your organization with corporate culture author/speaker Josh Levine for Fast Company:

https://www.fastcompany.com/91255330/game-time-is-a-leadership-fallacy-heres-the-real-teamwork-lesson-from-sports

Game Time approach creates an environment that discourages learning, coaching, and growth, leading to exhaustion, burnout, and disengagement.

01/14/2025

"We need to carve out more space in our discourse, in our work, in our lives for imagination as a battlefield."

In this episode of Tech Policy Press, speaker Ruha Benjamin, Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and Founding Director of the IDA B. WELLS Just Data Lab, discusses her most recent book, Imagination: A Manifesto, and explores the power of collective imagination in shaping equitable futures. She also discusses the importance of recognizing both the constructive and destructive potentials of our shared visions.

Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.techpolicy.press/imagining-2025-and-beyond-with-dr-ruha-benjamin/

Dr. Ruha Benjamin is the author of Imagination: A Manifesto (Norton Shorts, 2024).

01/09/2025

Overcome the fear of saying "no" at work this year. The power of saying "no" can be a game-changer for your mental health and work-life balance. Learn why embracing selective engagement can lead to greater productivity and fulfillment with organizational management speaker and author Mary Abbajay in her Forbes.com. It's an oldie, but goodie for the start of a new year!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryabbajay/2021/01/27/just-say-no-how-to-do-more-by-doing-less/

What strategies do you use to prioritize yourself at work? Share in the comments 👇 - spread the love on your best practices!

Getting the most out of a 24-hour day is a constant challenge in the modern world—with a bottomless inbox, endless emails, and millions of meetings.