The Culture Advantage
Every organization has a culture, whether by design or by default. The real question is: does your culture give you an advantage… or hold you back?
Hosted by Dr. Michael Baran, cultural anthropologist, speaker, author, and consultant with 30 years of experience, The Culture Advantage helps leaders, teams, and professionals navigate the hidden forces that shape workplace success. From everyday interactions to organizational systems, Dr. Baran uncovers and shares how culture drives engagement, retention, innovation, performance, and well-being.
Each episode delivers practical strategies, compelling stories, and fresh insights to help you create a healthier, more inclusive, and higher-performing workplace. Whether you’re an executive, manager, or team member, you’ll gain the tools to transform your culture and unlock the full potential of your people.
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The Culture Advantage
Everyday Bias, Updated: Insights from Howard and Jake Ross
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You’ve heard countless people talking about bias and how it impacts the workplace. But how often do you get to hear about bias from the author of perhaps the single-most influential book on the topic?
In this wide-ranging and important episode, Dr. Michael Baran interviews two guests: (1) legendary thought leader, author, and workplace consultant Howard Ross, and (2) his son Jake Ross who is collaborating with Howard to write the second edition of the book, Everyday Bias, to be released in summer 2026. Michael and guests revisit the insights from Howard’s 2014 book Everyday Bias and then dive into what is being updated for the second edition. This includes updating the research and context in the book as well as new chapters on AI and social media. We also dig into ways that political opinion has moved from a bell curve to a barbell shape, the lack of white men in DEI work, how to avoid triggering defensiveness, and how to make real human connections. We close with some reflections on activism and change and some optimism for the future.
Resources mentioned:
Everyday Bias by Howard Ross book
Reinventing Diversity by Howard Ross book
Our Search for Belonging by Howard Ross book
Bowling Alone by Robert Putman book
The Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker book
Biography of Andrew Jackson by John Meacham book
Ken Burns: The American Revolution series