Let's Talk About Indy's "Diverse" Business Community

In episode 10 of “Post-Modern Living with Chris The Brain,” Chris and Kait talk about diversity in Indiana’s business world with guest host Tony Sanders. They discuss Indiana’s lack of diversity, people who don’t think there’s a diversity issue, and the code of conduct that excludes people who have different ideas or backgrounds. On a lighter note, they give advice on what to look for in a pair of headphones and suggest their favorites.

The episode starts with a discussion of Chris’s “supervillain” status, how to be good at sales and why most salespeople suck, and what led to Chris, Kait, and Tony becoming entrepreneurs. Then, the main topic kicks off with comments on Indiana’s “old boys’ club” business environment. The hosts mention that the biggest issue is people who don’t think the diversity issue exists; the first part of solving a problem is being aware that there is a problem. If you think there isn’t an issue, it’s usually because it either doesn’t affect you, or it doesn’t affect anyone important to you.

Some people are aware and still not changing their course of action, often having the attitude that since they’re not racist, they don’t have anything else to do about it. You don’t have to be racist for it to be a problem; the system is inherently bigoted. We’re operating based on a definition of professionalism that was created at a time when the only people it would apply to were white men, meaning that minorities have to change who they are to fit into business culture. If you’re a minority, you’re in a position where you have to decide whether you’re going to play the game or buck the system.

We’re never going to have racial equality or gender equality until we can create a vision of a world in which people with different ideas and background can be considered professional. Progress is being made, but not quickly enough, and it’s great that there are things that incentivize diversity, but they still don’t create enough change.

On a lighter note, the hosts have a discussion headphones (which gets crashed by the appearance of a bat in the studio). They’re your gateway to escapism, and the modern day pocket knife - you should always carry them because you never know when you’ll need them.

Tony’s Suggestions:

Standard Apple iPhone headphones, his everyday reliable headphones

Apple AirPods, which Tony and Kait want, but Chris thinks are way too expensive for a wireless solution without high quality sound

Wireless Beats, his go-to if he doesn’t have his Apple headphones

Bose, headphones Tony uses for really enjoying music; Chris thinks they’re great for sound but ugly

Monster, headphones Tony uses for really enjoying music

If you’re not a big music lover, don’t buy really nice wired headphones, cheap headphones or wireless is the way to go.

Chris’s Suggestions for Wireless Headphones:

Jaybird

JBL

Anker, which makes gadgets (including wireless headphones) that are good, not great, but inexpensive

If you don’t want to go above $200 and you want great sound, you’re going to have to buy wired. Chris suggests Bowers & Wilkins. The reason you can’t get great sound on wireless is because bluetooth doesn’t send enough data from music to the headset for it to ever sound good enough. There are a few ways to get good wireless sound (a codec called aptX and Sony’s LDAC), but for them to work right, both your headphones and your gadget need to support the software.

Get in touch with Tony:

Tonyrsanders.com

Twitter and Instagram @TonyRSanders

[email protected]

Shout Outs To:

Apprenace, a company creating meaningful internship programs that help businesses and careers grow

DK New Media, the digital marketing company that lets us use their podcast studio

1 Million Cups, an event where Chris and Kait met guest host Tony

Zig Ziglar, a sales coach both Chris and Tony respect

Mark Zuckerberg, Marcus Lemonis, and Gary Vee, who have changed what the perception of a billionaire is by wearing jeans and sneakers to work

IUPUI, where Kait went to school

Pink Floyd’s The Wall, an album Kait’s father uses as an example of why you need to listen to a complete album and not just singles

Goodfellas, a movie Tony loves (you can’t just watch one part, just like you can’t just listen to one song from an album)

NPR, the reason Chris listens to the radio